MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) announced this weekend that its Doppler radar system located at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) center in Mt. Sto. Tomas, Baguio City is now fully functional.

Acting DoST Administrator Nathaniel Servando said the said Doppler radar, which is one of the agency’s older radars, was recently upgraded to Doppler capability in 2009.

However, Servando said the Doppler radar, which complements Baler and Aparri radars when severe weather systems approach their respective areas of coverage, has limited capability.

It may not be able to detect or locate site-specific severe weather systems such as rainfall areas associated with approaching typhoons east of Northern Luzon because of the obstructions caused by mountain ranges such as the Cordilleras and Sierra Madre, normally referred to as blind areas.

“The Mt. Sto. Tomas Doppler radar is fully functional and does not pose a serious threat to the weather forecasts of the bureau on the veracity of the weather disturbance that is fast approaching, in particular, to Northern Luzon areas,” he said.