Columbia Weather Systems

Winter weather is upon us! Check out this freezing rain infographic. Be informed, and stay safe. Our recent addition of a Freezing Rain Sensor to be used with the Weather MicroServer is perfect timing for the upcoming season. #WeatherReadyNation #WRNAmbassadors

In HazMat or CBRN incidents, toxic cloud movement can be affected by wind, solar heating and cooling, humidity and precipitation as well as topographical features. Depending on meteorology, the toxic cloud could be several miles long, but only a few blocks wide. Changing wind patterns could cause the plume to shift, or meander in another direction. PEAC® Software from Aristatek provides responders with vital information to make informed decisions such as evacuation at an incident scene. Its features include integrated mapping, an easy-to-use toxic or flammable vapor cloud dispersion model, and a comprehensive database of toxic industrial chemicals, biological agents, explosives, and radioactive isotopes. Utilizing a variety of modeling tools, the PEAC System quickly calculates standoff distances and exclusion zones based on actual met data and conditions. Based on the request of several of our customers, data from CWS weather stations can be integrated automatically to provide on-s...

Following a recent ice storm, Vermont Electric Power Company determined that a better picture of weather conditions was necessary at their key locations. Responding to the customer request, we have added a Freezing Rain Sensor for use with the Weather MicroServer. The sensor uses resonant frequencies to determine the presence of icing conditions. Included is a built-in heater for automatic defrost. The de-icing (heater) control is automatically triggered with accumulation of 0.5mm of ice on probe. Click on Additional Sensors Tab For More Information

When the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project was looking for a weather station to help them compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, they contacted Columbia Weather Systems. A Magellan MX500™ Weather Station was mounted on a support vehicle to provide met data to help optimize power for the solar-powered, cruiser-class car dubbed “Eos II.” Besides speed, cruiser-class vehicles focus on practicality and number of people in the car. Gearing up for the race, electrical technical advisor Spencer Berglund related, “We’ve been test driving a lot for the past few days and have been using your weather station for gathering accurate power to drive data for our car. We will also be using it every day on the race.” The U of M Solar Vehicle Project is a student-administered, designed, and built project that teaches members about engineering and management in a complete product development environment. The diverse design and construction challenges help further the school’...

What’s the weather going to be like this winter in the Pacific Northwest? Saturday was your chance to find out at the free annual event hosted by the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. If you missed it, scroll down for the presentations link and OregonLive’s more “user-friendly” analysis. 25th Annual Winter Weather Forecast Conference presented by the Oregon AMS. Gary Bock, Business Development Manager, represented Columbia Weather Systems. Packed auditorium at OMSI. Standing room only crowd. Click here for the Oregon AMS page with presentation links:  https://oregonams.wordpress.com/2017/10/28/presentations-25th-annual-winter-weather-conference/ Click here for OregonLive report:  http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2017/10/ready_or_not_experts_take_a_lo.html

Moments before shipping his Orion sensor in for evaluation last week after unusual rain and wind readings, Florida customer Michael Koenig was surprised to see something move in the box. With a closer look, he discovered the source of the problem – a Cuban Tree Frog! “As a testament to your product’s reliability, I can safely say that I continue with my very own kind of Florida durability testing right here in my back yard!” Michael says. Perhaps CWS should consider offering frog spike kits in the future 😉.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. If you have any concerns about whether adding a weather station may cause vulnerability to your network, we have several solutions. # CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth

President Nader Khoury is our Team Member feature this week! Having an interest in science and technology, he studied Electric and Electronics Engineering at Oregon State University. Following 10 years as Manufacturing Manager at Branden Technologies, Nader has led CWS for 20 years. “What I enjoy about my job is discovering the different applications customers have and coming up with creative solutions to improve in order to meet each customer’s needs,” he says. “It’s fun to be able to say ‘yes, we can do that for you.’” Nader also enjoys hiking, gardening, and photography. Nader's photography decorates the office walls.

Planning a trip? This map provided by the NOAA is an interactive, visual tool to help you be prepared. From flash flood and hurricane warnings to Red Flag and air quality alerts, this is an easily accessible resource to keep you informed With the wildfires we have been experiencing here in the Pacific Northwest, air quality updates have been especially important to monitor. Stay tuned for more info on our new air quality sensor launching soon. # NationalPreparednessMonth # WeatherReadyNation # WRNAmbassadors x