ORLANDO, Fla. — The end of one chapter in weather forecasting history marks the beginning of a new one in Central Florida with Klystron 13.

How did it evolve?

Meteorologist Jim Gandy's love for weather started here in Florida, where he got his meteorology degree at Florida State University. The intrigue of "Tornado Alley" took him west after graduation. 

“In 1977, I went to the NBC affiliate in Oklahoma City,” says Gandy, looking back on his career.

It was a pivotal time for weather technology. 

“Our TV station was working with the National Severe Storms Laboratory; they were testing Doppler radar,” he said. This technology had origins dating back to World War II, when it was used to detect and locate enemy aircraft.

Radar is an acronym for RAdio Detection and Ranging. It is a remote sensor that helps meteorologists understand the structure and location of storms.

By the late 1970s, radar became available for use in television and “it became a hit,” Gandy said.

During the early days of radar on TV, “that was one of the important things about radar back then," Gandy said. "It showed you where the storms were."

Now, with Klystron 13, we can see so much more.

Dual polarization technology enables us to learn more about the droplets as the radar sends both vertical and horizontal pulses. This offers more information about the shape and size of what is being detected, making it easier to identify rain, hail, or even debris from a tornado.

“The technology and the science has changed so much since I got into the business,” Gandy said. 

After a 44-year career mostly spent in Columbia, South Carolina, Gandy gets to rest in his retirement.

“I get to watch the weather the way I used to watch it in high school,” he said.

Now, the Doppler radar you see every 10 minutes in Weather on the Ones is getting a major upgrade.