Their primary purpose is the early detection of precipitation, its motion and the threat it poses to life and property.

Starting in June 2021, some of the radars' ranges will be extended to 400 km (250 mi) in the lowest angle of reflectivity data.

The Jimmy Lake and Lac Castor stations are owned and operated by the Department of Defense (DND), these are also part of the network.

In February 2017, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the signature of a $83‑million contract with Selex ES (ex-subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. now marketed under Leonardo Electronics) to buy 20 new radars with the most modern technology available (S band and double polarized) to update the network.

[11] Environment and Climate Change Canada received the funding from the Treasury Board in 2011 to undergo a major modernization project called 'WES (Weather and Environmental Services) Renewal' to upgrade to dual polarization all Canadian Radars in two separate five year plans.

Complete network stabilization and systemic problems resolution were also part of this major effort by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

[3] The first modernization process began in the fall of 1998 with the opening of Bethune radar and ended in 2004 with the one in Timmins.