Columbia Weather Systems

A Pulsar™ 800 Weather Station is seen mounted on the roof of the Cedar Park Mobile Command Center as it responds to an incident (Photo courtesy of John Cummins / City of Cedar Park) Tornadoes, hailstorms, straight-line winds, thunderstorms, and flash floods can occur unexpectedly in Central Texas' s ubtropical, subhumid climate . This makes keeping a close eye on weather conditions a top concern for public safety officials. The City of Cedar Park, TX is prepared for emergencies with their Mobile Command Center, a joint-use resource for the Fire and Police Departments as well as the Central Texas Regional SWAT Team. A Pulsar 800™ Weather Station mounted on the vehicle allows decision makers to view current data quickly and easily. “The Mobile Command Center, as the name suggests, serves as a mobile incident command post for large-scale emergencies with prolonged operational periods,” their website states. The vehicle “is equipped with meeting rooms, workstations, display monit...

  There’s no substitute for immediate, accurate, on-site weather data... Unlike fixed-base versions , Mobile Weather Stations can be transported to different locations, allowing users to acquire meteorological data in varied or changing environments. This can be critical for first responders, work crews, or researchers who require accurate, on-site weather information for analysis and decision-making. Some Applications of Mobile Weather Stations Mobile weather stations serve a variety of critical functions across multiple industries, including: Outdoor Work Crews – Monitor on-site for heat stress or extreme cold Emergency Response – Optimize situational awareness to ensure safety of crew and public Military Operations – Support tactical decision-making based on environmental conditions Outdoor Events & Sports – Assist planning and safety at races, concerts, and other outdoor gatherings Environmental Research – Data collection to analyze the impact of weather conditions Cli...

  The Chatham County Emergency Operations Center in Pittsboro, NC MIND THE GAP: The reality is, relying on publicly available weather data doesn't get you the detailed, hyper-local information you need to make informed decisions. Chatham County Emergency Management in North Carolina recognized this dilemma and implemented a plan to increase weather monitoring coverage. Emergency Management Director Steve Newton described how: "Chatham County Emergency Management (Pittsboro, NC) partnered with the county’s Emergency Communications department to install Columbia Weather’s Orion sensors on public safety radio towers to fill gaps in weather information used to inform decision making at the Emergency Operations Center. "We installed fixed Orion Weather Monitoring Systems at radio towers in four “corners” of the county (NE, SE, SW, NW) and one centrally at the Emergency Operations Center." A view from the ground of an Orion Weather Station mounted on the ice bridge of a ra...

  ⚠️ Trying to balance worker safety and productivity when temperatures get high? It’s not too early to be planning ahead for summer work crews. Could you use a more comprehensive measurement for monitoring heat stress? Inspired by requests from places like Kuwait and Quatar, where both temperatures and development are increasing, CWS is adding Thermal Work Limit (TWL) as a calculated parameter in our monitoring and display options. It might be useful for you, too, if you supervise or dispatch workers in outdoor environments like public safety, utilities, and construction. 🌡️ TWL is a measurement of heat stress that incorporates more environmental parameters than either Heat Index or Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. It includes dry and wet bulb temperatures, black globe temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and barometric pressure. Therefore, it takes into account the cooling effects of air movement (wind). TWL’s advantages include: Improved Accuracy: Accounts for critical envir...

Happy Umbrella Day! 🏖️ Let us know in the comments — is it umbrella weather where you are?? Martha is modeling one of our favorites from Shed Rain ! ☔️

Are you a Weatherperson? 🌦️ Do you rely on weather data to make informed decisions for yourself or your team? Whether you’re a plant operator, crew supervisor, or meteorologist, professionals in many industries depend on CWS weather stations to monitor for safety and operational efficiency. That makes YOU a Weatherperson — and today, we celebrate you! 📅 February 5th is National Weatherperson's Day, honoring John Jeffries, one of America's first weather observers. He began daily weather tracking in Boston in 1774 and conducted the first balloon observation in 1784! We appreciate the dedication of professionals who keep industries moving forward with critical weather insights. At CWS, we are proud to support you with reliable solutions to help make informed decisions. Thank you for your commitment to accurate weather monitoring. WPBF News team with their First Warning Weather Live Tracker and Magellan MX600 Weather Station. North Star BlueScope Package Engineer Kelly Masell mon...

Each person at CWS plays a critical role in creating the weather stations our customers rely on . Here are some of our team members who work together to give you quality met monitoring equipment tailored to your needs. Last weekend, we gathered to celebrate another successful year at our company dinner. Ironically, the wife of our remote Software Developer won the multiple-choice company trivia! Thanks to our wonderful team and customers who make what we do possible. Special shout out to Nena and Edgar at Orenco Station Grill in Hillsboro, Oregon for the excellent food and service!

Need a professional weather station for your federal project? U.S. federal agencies, and other organizations purchasing with federal grants, may continue to purchase most CWS weather stations through the GSA Advantage Catalog and eBuy portal. The GSA program offers streamlined procurement with competitive pre-negotiated pricing. Participants are assured the best offer. As a pre-approved vendor, CWS has met stringent standards and is a trusted supplier for government agencies. Our contract number has changed, as we recently completed a major 20-year renewal of our Government Services Administration (GSA) contract. Our first Capricorn model weather station was awarded a GSA contract about 35 years ago, laying the foundation for our current range of advanced weather station models trusted by government agencies today. In 2004 sales manager John Gerrish, a former U.S. Air Force meteorologist, implemented a new contract expanding our weather offerings. Our GSA offerings also extend to state...

Every weather station from Columbia Weather is custom-built to the specific needs of our customers. Our in-house technicians perform testing to assure the quality of all the weather monitoring systems that go out the door 🔧 Get in touch here  and we'll help you find the right system for your requirements! Image description: A technician assembling a Pulsar 500 weather station on a table with various components and tools.

“(This is) the best technology when it comes to data collection for weather” —Paul Deanno, KPIX San Francisco Meteorologist. Top-of-the-line Pulsar™ Weather Stations features include: ☑️ Choice of sensor configuration in all-in-one module ☑️ Advanced Doppler radar measures precipitation type, intensity ☑️ Ventilated radiation protection ☑️ No moving parts, low maintenance  ☑️ Fast and simple to install Pulsar weather stations are for operations that require precise weather monitoring, such as satellite communications, broadcast, and transportation. Customers include Ferrari, Siemens, CBS TV, and the U.S. Air Force. Have questions? Visit our website here .

Happy New Year! In 2024, CWS helped critical operations around the world be more prepared, whatever the weather. We are happy to kick off 2025 by sharing that our GSA contract has been renewed. We're looking forward to providing trusted weather solutions for government operations in the years ahead!