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Archie Williams - Meteorologist and Olympic Gold Medalist

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                        In honor of Black History Month and National Weather Person’s Day, we are highlighting the legacy of Archie Williams, an accomplished meteorologist, Olympic gold medalist, and educator. Born in 1915 in Oakland, California, Williams expressed an early interest in both aviation and athletics. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, he excelled in track and field, setting a world record and qualifying for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he won a gold medal in the 400-meter race.                       After an injury ended his running career and engineering jobs were denied due to racial discrimination, Williams redirected his focus toward aviation and meteorology. During World War II, he became one of 14 African Americans commissioned through the Army Air Forces aviation meteorological cadet program. Following gr...
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Updated Resource for Emergency Response

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For incident commanders and emergency managers alike, localized meteorological data is no longer optional —it is a foundational input to risk management, operational strategy, and first responder safety. Weather monitoring assists in critical operational areas including safety, fire behavior, plume modeling, reporting, and drone operation. Read the updated resource: 5 Ways On-Scene Weather Data Benefits Emergency Response
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Heated Weather Sensor Options

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  Winter conditions bring snow, ice, and freezing precipitation, all of which can interrupt certain sensor measurements. Heated sensors help prevent buildup, assuring continuous operations in cold weather operations. We offer heated sensors for Orion™, Pulsar™, and some Magellan MX™ weather station models. A heated tipping bucket rain gauge is also available. Make sure your equipment is up for the task. Contact us to learn more about our heated sensor options. Visit our website for information about professional weather stations
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MicroServer Cybersecurity Firmware Update

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  The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Vulnerability Disclosure Program published an Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Advisory on January 6 documenting resolved vulnerabilities of the CWS MicroServer. As part of our ongoing commitment to the reliability, accuracy, and security of our products, Columbia Weather Systems engaged a third-party cybersecurity audit in August 2025 to evaluate the security of the MicroServer . In October 2025, this review identified three vulnerabilities, which CWS disclosed to CISA. Our development team acted quickly to address the findings. All identified issues were remediated and incorporated into MicroServer firmware version MS_4.1_14142. A follow-on assessment by the same third-party confirmed that the remediations were successful. We recommend all customers with a MicroServer update to firmware version MS_4.1_14142. Please contact our support team at support@columbiaweather.com or by phone at 503-629-0887.
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Thanks for your business in 2025!

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We’re grateful to help customers around the globe make better, weather-informed decisions every day. Thank you for being part of our 2025!
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A special visitor swung by the office...

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  Santa’s secret? Reliable weather data before a global delivery run! We were glad to help, and also sent him off with some CWS gear to stay warm on his route. Safe travels on your long journey! 🎅🏼❄️
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Monitoring Hurricane Melissa Weather Conditions

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As Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approached Jamaica last month , Kingston Freeport Terminal Ltd. monitored on-site conditions remotely through the CWS app. Afterward, Environmental Manager Christopher Gayle shared, “We escaped the hurricane-force winds, but the data gathered is still useful to inform and validate our preparedness actions.” Our thoughts are with all who were impacted by the storm. Red bars on the CWS Weather Server wind rose show wind speeds of 20+ mph. Wind and barometric pressure readings during Hurricane Melissa. (Hurricane Melissa Image Credit: NASA Worldview)
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New High-Performance Wind Sensor

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  We’ve upgraded the Capricorn FLX Weather Station with a new standard high-performance wind sensor . One of the most popular wind sensors on the market, it is rugged, reliable, and ready for extreme conditions. Built to measure wind speeds up to 175 mph, this proven sensor features corrosion-resistant, UV-stable materials and a lightweight, durable design. Looking for a modular professional weather station you can tailor to your needs? The Cap FLX lets you customize your setup with a full range of sensor options. Learn more about the Capricorn FLX Weather Station
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Weather Station for Mass Alarm System

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When safety and precision matter, reliable real-time Weather Data makes all the difference. Amanco Project Engineer Abdul Kadar wrote: “We are proud to announce the successful installation of our weather monitoring system, manufactured by Columbia Weather Systems, Inc. at a major oil and gas field project in Saudi Arabia! Our advanced weather monitoring technology provides real-time data, enabling informed decision-making and ensuring the safety of personnel and operations.” The Orion Weather Station integrates with a mass alarm system at the plant. Amanco’s website explains its importance: “The oil/gas industry can pose physical and operational risks. Equipment may fail, environmental conditions can change rapidly . . . the ability to quickly communicate critical information can be the difference between safety and catastrophe.” Natural disasters like floods or storms, fires or explosions, and hazardous gas leaks are listed as situations where the alarm system would be triggered. “T...
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