IPSWICH will be at the cutting edge of weather research after a $2.5 million radar was commissioned at Redbank Plains.

The state-of-the-art CP2 radar was launched by Queensland Senator Russell Trood.

It will support research into storms in Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs and is expected to be online in the coming weeks.

The radar was obtained by the Bureau of Meteorology under an agreement with the US Earth Observing Laboratory.

``The radar is unique in Australia and provides a significant boost to Australia's capability to undertake storm research and to develop and improve meteorological and hydrological forecasting systems,'' he said.

``The radar will allow the evolution of intense storms to be studied as they develop over the south-east corner of Queensland.

``It will provide a welcome focus for ongoing research and development work for national and international partners.''

Mr Trood said the facility would help validate satellite-based rainfall measurements undertaken by NASA as part of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission.

Source: Ipswich News