Storm Center 7 invests in new, state-of-the-art weather vehicle

WHIO TV’s Storm Center 7, the Miami Valley’s leader in weather technology, is adding to its arsenal with a new, high-tech weather vehicle.

Storm Center 7 has invested in a state-of-the-art Storm Center on wheels - Storm Tracker 7. The vehicle will allow meteorologists to keep local residents safe during severe, impactful weather year-round.

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The one-of-a-kind tracker is equipped with:

• A weather station to read temperature, wind speed, direction, and barometric pressure
• Live Doppler 7 Radar access for storm tracking in the field
• Access to multiple forecast data models via WSI, and weather display graphics
• Six cameras for a 360-degree view of live, real time, driving conditions
• Satellite dish and Live U technology to go live from anywhere, anytime
• 4WD capability to get our Meteorologists to remote weather impacted sites—whether it be tornado devastation, floods, snow emergencies, or communities ravaged by hurricane, Storm Tracker 7 will push through to track the storm.
• Sky 7 Drone launch pad to get a complete view of the areas affected by severe weather

Dedicated to covering every corner of the Miami Valley, you may soon see Storm Tracker 7 on the road in your neighborhood.

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“Keeping the Miami Valley safe in severe weather is our number one priority,” said Cox Media Group Ohio Market Vice President Rob Rohr. “That’s why our Storm Center 7 meteorologists have their own live Doppler Radar allowing them to give information minutes faster than others. Today, with the launch of our new Storm Tracker 7, we can be in the field forecasting and tracking the weather to get even more information about how to keep you and your family prepared and out of harm’s way.”

Always committed to weather coverage you can count on, this new, high-tech weather vehicle will allow Storm Center 7 Meteorologists to take street-level weather coverage to a whole new level.

“Storm Tracker 7 builds on our commitment to News Center 7 viewers to provide the most accurate and dependable severe weather coverage to keep our viewers safe,” said WHIO-TV News Director Dave Bennallack. “The Hi-Definition equipment and cameras on board provide our Meteorologists with yet another exclusive tool to provide the earliest possible alert to our viewers when severe weather is approaching their neighborhood.”

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Storm Tracker 7 will make its debut Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The City of Beavercreek's annual "Try a Truck" event, where the public will get a firsthand look, sit in the driver's seat and have their pictures taken with Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini.

The tracker will then head over to the Nutter Center where Meteorologist Jesse Maag will be available for viewers to ask questions and check out the new weather vehicle before the 3 p.m. performance of Disney on Ice presents: FROZEN.

Tune into WHIO-TV Channel 7 at 5 p.m. Friday when Zontini will debut Storm Tracker 7.