Columbia Weather Systems

This state-of-the-art Hazmat delivery for the City of Fresno, California features a Vehicle-Mount Orion™ Weather Station for real-time weather monitoring in critical situations. SVI Trucks specs note that "This compact, all-in-one sensor module is very durable and has no moving parts . . . Inside, the Orion Interface Module provides power to the sensor transmitter and communication ports for both computer and weather display console." Catch a glimpse of the weather display at 7:37 in the video walkthrough here . See this rig featured in Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazine here . Photos courtesy of SVI Trucks

  The HBEP is one of the cleanest power generation plants in California. Harnessing Weather Data for Energy Forecasting AES is a global energy company that has purchased CWS weather stations for several US project locations since 2012. Ellie Thacker, CWS Technical Sales Engineer, recently got a site tour and sends the following report: The  Huntington Beach Energy Project (HBEP) , located in Huntington Beach, California, began operation in 2020. The HBEP is an 844-megawatt power generation plant that uses a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle turbine and a simple-cycle turbine. The HBEP is one of the cleanest power generation plants in California due to its emissions control equipment. The Challenge Gas-fired turbines run more efficiently when the ambient temperature is lower. When the ambient air is colder, it is denser, which means more air can fit in the given volume that passes through the machinery. Relative humidity also affects the efficiency of the turbines. John Islas, ...

On October 17th, we join communities across the U.S. to recognize Imagine a Day Without Water , a day to highlight the importance of safe, accessible water—our most valuable resource. This resource wouldn't be possible without local water reclamation operations like Bloomington-Normal in Illinois. Committed to protect public health and the environment, they have won 12 Gold Peak Performance Awards from the NACWA and the 2018 Plant of the Year award from the Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators. The plant relies on five Orion™ Weather Stations to monitor on-site conditions at the district’s water treatment locations for regulatory reporting. Learn more about Imagine a Day Without Water HERE Discover how on-site weather data is critical for wastewater system resiliency HERE Photos courtesy of Bloomington-Normal Reclamation District

As Hurricane Milton makes its approach from the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida, Cloud Weather Server screenshots from a utility customer in the Keys show high wind speeds and a drop in barometric pressure. Weather conditions affect their operations and impacts decision making, as shown in a customized screen. Our thoughts are with all who are affected by this powerful storm.

Nader and Martha in Vienna, Austria for 🌐 Meteorological Technology World Expo 2024! It was a valuable time exploring the latest in technology advances and connecting with fellow professionals in the weather world. Here are some photos from the week: CWS President Nader Khoury at #MetTechWorldExpo Martha at the Expo in Vienna, Austria

We are always excited when educators invest in giving their students hands-on knowledge of how weather works, how it’s measured, and how it affects them. South River High School in New Jersey does just that. Last year, the school installed a  Capricorn FLX Weather Station  on one of their buildings. The Climate Change Club uses the data to report hourly weather readings to the National Weather Service. According to their website: “This will make South River High School a weather hub for pilots to collect current weather conditions of our area. The information that the club collects will also be archived for climate change data.” Administrator Kamila Miazio added that the club “provides a weekly forecast, satellite imagery of CONUS, and severe weather updates. The advisor is working to teach students METAR code (the weather code that pilots use to see current weather conditions for the area), report an hourly automatic observation with the weather equipment, record the data and...

Kelly Masell of North Star BlueScope with the Weather MicroServer monitoring screen. When equipment breakdowns happen during manufacturing processes, it’s important for operators to identify the root cause to prevent costly impacts in the future. Kelly Masell is a Package Engineer at North Star BlueScope , a leading supplier in the steel industry based in Ohio. He recently explained how data from an Orion Weather Station installed at the plant is used for their operations: An Orion Weather Station installed at the plant. “The system was configured to transfer data via Modbus TCP to an Allen Bradley PLC. This data is then trended in a historical program for data retrieval at any time. If something major happens in the plant, it may be weather related. We can look at the historical trends of temperature, humidity, winds, barometric pressure and more. Columbia Weather data could pinpoint if a weather-related data point was a contributing factor of why the breakdown occurred.”  Kelly ...

  Did you know that there are currently 88 large active wildfires in the US? ¹ With longer, more active fire seasons each year affecting a broader population, now is the time to boost efforts to protect public health and safety, optimize infrastructure, and plan more strategically. For comprehensive monitoring, our AQM Complete and AQM PM air quality monitoring systems can now detect PM1 concentrations from sources such as wildfires, traffic, and dust-emitting industrial facilities (in addition to PM2.5 and PM10). These robust systems offer best-in-class accuracy, simple deployment, and reliability over a long service life.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Mobile Command Unit When natural disasters and emergency incidents cut power, damage infrastructure, or disrupt communication, Mobile Command Centers step in to serve as critical, centralized hubs for response teams. These command centers are equipped with advanced technology that regularly includes Magellan MX500 Vehicle-Mount weather stations . Riverside County Sheriff's Mobile Command Posts have been deployed to critical incidents, including wildfires, natural disasters, and crime scenes. Monitoring weather data at the scene means: 🚨 Increased Safety: Integrating weather monitoring into critical information systems increases situational awareness. Extreme temperatures and high wind speeds can pose a risk to crews and affect response efforts. 🚨 Seamless Automation: Data is automatically displayed, logged, and reported via WeatherMaster software. Custom alarms can be set to trigger instant alerts.  🚨 Comprehensive Reporting: Accurate data is critical...

With the ability to interface with any of our weather station models , the Weather MicroServer gives you access to live meteorological data from anywhere in the world. Features Include: ➡️ A web browser user interface with real-time dashboards, configuration, and data export. ➡️ Internet and industrial protocols for automated reporting via computer or industrial automation system. ➡️ Compatibility with third-party applications like CERES for HazMat plume modeling. ➡️ Database, daily/monthly reports, and custom alarms through WeatherMaster™ Software. For additional features and info, click here

We recently received some feedback from Operations & Maintenance Manager Mark Alberts of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC)​:  Thank you for sharing with us, Mark! Our professional-grade weather stations are ideal for applications that require high-precision monitoring. We love hearing from our customers and encourage any feedback you may have for us. Just send an email to bvillero@columbiaweather.com. Image graphic text: "We have now had your weather station in service for two years now. It is an extremely reliable tool for us here at our facility. In the ever-changing requirements for the power industry, the information that we retrieve from the station is critical for our power generation capacity output verification. We appreciate the robust nature of the station."  —Mark Alberts, Operations & Maintenance Manager, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative

Join us in welcoming Ellie Thacker to CWS! As our new Technical Sales Engineer, she will be supporting our customers by responding to inquiries and generating quotes, as well as assisting with research and development. Ellie gained experience interning at Hewlett-Packard (HP) and working for the Shellhammer Lab while studying Bioengineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University. After graduating, she worked for Invoy as a Bioengineer and Health Analyst.  As the daughter of CWS President Nader Khoury and granddaughter of founder Gene Hinds, Ellie is the next generation continuing the commitment to provide professional weather monitoring solutions to industries and government agencies across the globe. “Ellie brings new expertise and fresh energy to our team, expanding our engineering capabilities to respond personally, promptly, and thoroughly to our customers’ requirements,” Nader says. “We are very pleased to bring her on board.”

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality leads one of the most extensive air monitoring programs in the United States. Since 2019, the state agency has procured 12 Magellan MX500 Vehicle-Mount weather stations for their Mobile Command Posts, which are deployed during emergencies. A TCEQ mobile command post with a Magellan MX500 weather station mounted on the side. CBS Austin’s Chief Meteorologist Chikage Windler states in a 2023 article: “In addition to analyzing air pollution on samples in the lab, the TCEQ can also monitor air quality on the go with its Mobile Monitoring Vans. CBS Austin Chief Meteorologist Chikage Windler gets a tour of the mobile lab. "Each is equipped with spectrometers to measure air quality plus an onboard weather station. That allows air quality and weather data to be used together to help track pollution levels and where higher concentrations may spread downwind from a natural disaster site or hazmat situation.” Ground-level ozone is another area of...

Introducing a new Capricorn FLX Weather Station wind sensor option for operations impacted by winter weather. The WM30 measures combined wind speed and direction and has increased performance in snow and icy conditions.   Columbia Weather Systems has got you covered, whatever the weather! Curious if our equipment is right for your operations? We're here to help. Send us an email at info@columbiaweather.com or  visit our website for more information.

Last week the  Oregon State Fire Marshal ’s office held their Regional HazMat Emergency Response Team Conference. Nader and Martha were honored to attend.  Beginning in 2005, the OSFM has outfitted HazMat teams with portable and vehicle-mount weather stations from CWS.  The conference was held in Sunriver, Oregon Over the past few years, the teams have been upgraded to the latest Magellan MX weather stations with their new apparatus through Hughes Fire Equipment . In addition to immediate situational awareness, met data from the weather stations is integrated with PEAC software for plume modeling and incident reporting.  Having fun at the "HazMat Olympics" CWS President Nader Khoury with Aristatek rep Renée Soriano   BNSF Railway's HazMat trailer Aristatek rep Renée Soriano presented the PEAC software integration.   Justin Piper, of BNSF (CWS customer) presented on Rail Hazardous Material Response. A key point was Start Gathering Information: What a...

Topeka Fire Department's brand-new Hazmat apparatus built by SVI Trucks  SVI Trucks includes a Magellan MX500  Vehicle-Mount weather station and Weather Display. Watch Captain Ty Forshee give a full walk-through of the delivery here . Thank you to SVI for sharing this great footage and congrats to the fire department for a fantastic-looking new rig!

 A Pulsar™ Weather Station was recently integrated with Penn Color ’s building automation systems. The on-site, real-time weather data will be used to improve operations at their headquarters in Hatfield, PA. Weather Server dashboard customized with the Penn Color logo. “We are using the weather station for several things,” says Control Engineer Dan Cole. “A PLC is reading the weather data via modbus. That data is being logged by our server. We plan to correlate that data with some of our production process data points. For example, how does temperature and humidity affect some our production processes and finished goods quality.” The project involves three main objectives to improve quality, efficiency, and safety: Correlate met data with production processes Reactive control of HVAC systems Health and safety notifications The Pulsar 800 Weather Station monitors lightning, precipitation, wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and solar radiation. ...

We welcomed Vaisala representatives to the office from Colorado and Finland last week! Wyatt and Mikko met with our team to discuss exciting weather tech currently in development. Vaisala sensor technology is integrated into several of our environmental monitoring systems. Looking for ways to make weather monitoring easier, more efficient, and more valuable to our customers is always on our minds. Thanks for coming!

  Strong winds and extreme temperatures can result in dangerous working conditions for outdoor crews . That’s why we developed a new feature of the Cloud Weather Server to let you set a custom alarms for any weather parameter applicable to your weather station(s). Instant alerts are sent via email or push notification through the CWS Weather Monitor app for quick, informed decision making. Put your team's safety first. We’re here to help if you have any questions. Give us a call: 503-629-0887 📲

  Check out this new video for a quick review of our CWS Weather Monitor App including the latest version with these updated features: A new History feature shows data from yesterday and today with Temperature, Wind, Barometric Pressure, and Rainfall graphs. The new Overview shows key current data from your active weather stations. The CWS Weather Monitor App makes it easier to quickly check current weather conditions from a hand-held mobile device for decision-making in the field. Real-time monitoring screens display standard met parameters. National Weather Service forecasts are available for any US zip code. Alarm notifications are customizable via the Cloud Weather Server. The CWS Weather Monitor App is compatible with all CWS weather stations that include the Weather MicroServer. The app is free to download for both Apple and Android devices – search for Columbia Weather Systems. Visit our website for more information.

Manitowoc County Emergency Mangagement's mobile command center. (Photo: LDV Inc.) While we may often post photos of emergency vehicle applications (like this fantastic rig* built by our friends at LDV), our customers span a wide range of industries that include aerospace, renewable energy, vehicle testing, data centers, transportation, amusement parks, and military operations. If you’re wondering if you need to monitor the weather… we can guarantee your competitors already are ! Weather affects everyone, and we can help you find the monitoring equipment you need to help you do your job better. Already a customer? We want to tell your story! Email Bethany at bvillero@columbiaweather.com. *This Manitowoc County Emergency Management Mobile Command Center features an Orion Weather Station. Get all the details here . Photo courtesy of LDV Inc.

Does wintry weather affect the accuracy of your met instruments? Heated sensors can help prevent frozen precipitation from accumulating on weather equipment and causing faulty data. Heated all-in-one sensors are available for the Orion ™ and Pulsar ™ weather stations. Heated wind sensors and tipping bucket rain gauge are available for Capricorn FLX ™ Weather Stations. And now a heated option is also available for the Magellan MX ™ 600, 501, and 500 weather station models. The heating function allows these models to operate easily during snow and ice accumulation with a low power demand (nominally 9W). These Magellan MX models incorporate GPS readings, wind speed and direction, pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and compass. The MX501 adds solar radiation. Magellan MX600 adds rainfall. Visit our website or email info@columbiaweather.com for more information.

Is factory-calibration accuracy critical to your weather monitoring application? The Orion Weather Station has a Pressure, Temperature, Humidity (PTU) module that can be replaced in the field with virtually no down-time.  Electronic measurement equipment can drift in accuracy over time.  For many applications, this minimal drift is acceptable. But for some regulatory-compliant or very sensitive applications, customers can ensure factory-calibrated accuracy by replacing the PTU module per the manufacturer’s recommendation every two years. Each replacement PTU module comes with a factory calibration certificate.   Collier County in Florida replaces their PTU module based on the recommendations found in the User Manual. “We primarily use the station for keeping track of weather conditions at the landfill. The station is located on a 15ft tower on a hill at the landfill and maintenance on the station itself is simple,” says Robert Lee, PMP, Manager Solid Waste Operatio...

Happy Leap Day! Leap year brings an extra day of winter “…because official meteorological winter is December through February, Leap Day is the last day of winter, which means Leap Years have an extra day of winter !” Click here for a clip of the “wintry mix” that we had here in Oregon this week, as noted by the Pulsar 600 Weather Station ’s Doppler radar precipitation sensor. Precipitation Type: Snow! (As seen on the Weather MicroServer display)

We are excited to release our latest white paper " How to Measure WBGT to Mitigate Heat Stress " written by our long-time friend and associate, meteorologist John Crosby. John has over 40 years of hands-on experience with meteorological, aerospace, and industrial sensors. We first worked with John when we integrated his EnviroTech visibility sensors into CWS weather stations. It was fun to meet in person when the AMS meeting came to Seattle. Most recently John has been working as a consultant under WXSensors, LLC. This guy knows what he is talking about! We welcome his wealth of meteorological knowledge and insights for this new white paper. Click here to read it , and please leave a comment to let us know your thoughts!

WTMJ News's Storm Chaser is ready to tackle the elements and report live weather conditions with the Magellan MX600™ Weather Station + Weather Display . Another rugged, custom-built broadcast rig built by Accelerated Media! Photos courtesy of Accelerated Media

Thank you to our customers both near and far for a successful 2023! Cheers to the New Year!