Continuing its commitment to deliver viewers accurate, immediate and reliable forecasts, NBC Connecticut/WVIT today unveiled First Alert 1, the first-ever weather vehicle equipped with mobile radar built on a custom Jeep Wrangler 4x4. This groundbreaking vehicle was designed specifically to allow meteorologists and reporters to drive directly to the storm and deliver the most hyper local-weather conditions to local viewers.
“With First Alert 1, we can provide live forecasts directly from areas being hit the hardest in a storm, allowing us to take news gathering and storm chasing to a whole new level,” said Ric Harris, General Manager and President, NBC Connecticut. “There is no other vehicle like First Alert 1 on the road and NBC Connecticut is proud to be a weather innovator.”
The First Alert 1 vehicle provides viewers with the most accurate look at live weather and road conditions directly in their hometowns. From winter blizzards to severe summer lightning storms, there will no limit to where this Jeep will be able go and deliver live radar, live video and live reports, even while the truck is moving.
The mobile radar has the ability to see crystal-clear targets up to 36 miles away and inside storm cells more than 19 miles away. The mobile weather station can measure wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, relative humidity, air temperature, wind chill and more.
First Alert 1 also features live cameras inside and out of the vehicle, including a 360 degree camera to bring viewers a complete view of local weather and road conditions.
“First Alert 1 enables us to gather the most accurate and local weather conditions from Connecticut neighborhoods to better prepare our viewers and their families for severe weather,” said Brad Field, Chief Meteorologist, NBC Connecticut.
The launch of First Alert 1 represents the latest investment NBC Connecticut has made in its weather coverage, which is delivered by an experienced team of meteorologists led by Field.
Eighteen months ago, the station launched AT1, the first-of-its-kind 4x4 pickup truck capable of transmitting high-definition satellite and microwave images in even the roughest of weather conditions. Additionally, NBC Connecticut will also unveil a brand new First Alert Weather Center to deliver more weather information and road conditions from across the state in each of its local newscasts.
