Action 8 unveils second Lifesaver Radar, located in Wilcox County

Severe weather coverage has taken another leap forward with the debut of Action 8’s second Lifesaver Radar. This radar is in Wilcox County.

This new Climavision radar is located in the town of Pine Hill, which is in Wilcox County west of Camden. It is an excellent location to help close the “radar gap” in West Alabama, where people have never received adequate radar coverage from government radars which are too far away. That can put them in danger during times that tornadoes are threatening.

WAKA Action 8’s second Lifesaver Radar was installed in December 2024 in Pine Hill, Alabama, in Wilcox County. — Photo from Climavision

The lack of coverage had been talked about for years, but there had been very little progress made in fixing the problem.

We decided that something needed to be done to protect lives. Our parent company, Bahakel Communications, LTD., of Charlotte, North Carolina, made the investment in this technology with support from the Johnny Adams Law Firm, which is the local sponsor.

This project took almost three years to complete.

MORE DETAILS ON NEW ACTION 8 LIFESAVER RADAR IN WILCOX COUNTY

RESIDENTS, LOCAL LEADERS EXPRESS THANKS FOR ACTION 8’S NEW LIFESAVER RADAR IN WILCOX COUNTY

The radars were built in Alabama. They use the X-band and are specially designed to scan the lower levels of the atmosphere where tornadoes can form.

The new radar, combined with the first Lifesaver Radar that Action 8 debuted last year near the Alabama-Mississippi state line west of Demopolis, closes that gap.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFESAVER RADAR AT ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI STATE LINE

DETAILS ABOUT LIFESAVER RADAR

• Lifesaver Radar is exclusive to WAKA Action 8, with systems in Wilcox County and near the Alabama-Mississippi state line
• Lifesaver Radar is an addition to government radars you already know
• Lifesaver Radar has 10 times the resolution, so you’ll see storms more clearly
• Lifesaver Radar scans lower levels of the atmosphere, areas that distant radars often miss
• Lifesaver Radar has the first look at storms incoming from the west, giving everyone an earlier warning

Because these radars will provide the first look at incoming storms from the west, you will benefit from seeing storms first even if you live in Selma, Montgomery or points to the east.

You will not see these radars on any other TV station. Be looking for the two Action 8 Lifesaver Radars from now on. They are critically important tools that we are grateful to have.

Watch the video above to see more on how these radar systems work from Action 8 Chief Meteorologist Shane Butler.