Ski resort staff get a sneak peak at the North Okanagan's newest radar tower

A new Environment Canada radar tower has recently come online in the north Okanagan.

The tower is located at the top of Silver Star Mountain Resort’s gondola and will provide more accurate weather information.

The new tower was completed in mid-December.

Staff at Silver Star got a tour of the tower, which has a massive soccer ball looking top that houses a large dish that records weather patterns.

“It’s part of a country-wide, seven year project to upgrade Canada’s radar network,” explained staff in a video on social media.

In February 2017, the Government of Canada announced it would be replacing 33 radar towers across the country.

The towers, including the one at Silver Star, use dual-polarization technology that can distinguish between rain, snow, hail and freezing rain.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says this technology will help forecasters issue more precise and timely weather watches and warnings.

The final new radar towers are expected to be completed by this spring.

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