PORT ANGELES — It’s going to get a lot easier to track the weather on North Olympic Peninsula and points beyond beginning in October 2012.

That’s when the National Weather Service will launch its $8 million dual polarization radar system in the western portion of Grays Harbor County.

Much of the Peninsula is shielded from Seattle radar by the Olympic Mountains.

Dual polarization radar, which is more reliable than conventional radar, will track rain and snow conditions as far as 125 nautical miles offshore.

‘Piece of the puzzle’

“It’s a huge piece of the puzzle,” said Ted Buehner, National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist in Seattle.

Buehner, who was in Port Angeles on Wednesday to train spot weather observers at Peninsula College, said the new radar system will improve forecasts and help predict the severity of floods.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, has secured close to $2 million for the radar. Four sites have been identified. A final site will be determined early next year.

Weather spotters

Buehner led a training course for nearly 50 weather spotters who dutifully report rainfall amounts, wind and snow conditions to the National Weather Service, which then relays the information to the public.

“They fill in gaps and provide ‘ground truth,'” Buehner said.

Clallam County already has about 50 weather spotters, while 15 to 20 note weather conditions in Jefferson County.

The National Weather Service is looking for more, especially on the county’s remote West End.

Clallam County has two official weather stations. They are located at William R. Fairchild Airport in Port Angeles and the Quillayute Airport in Forks.

Jefferson County has no official National Weather Service station.

For more information about spotter training, see www.weather.gov/seattle.

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.