Columbia Weather Systems

This new video (about 3 minutes) gives an overview of CWS’s proprietary weather monitoring software with WeatherMaster 5.0™ PC software offering:  Real-time met sensor monitoring including calculated parameters Data logging, trend graphs, and reports Multi-station monitoring Alarm notification Automatic CAMEO/ALOHA interface for hazardous chemical plume modeling  Automatic interface to Weather Underground Click here for more information on WeatherMaster 5.0

“Our project manager selected the Capricorn Weather Station in part for… outstanding customer service for a superior product,” says a staff member at a National Park Visitor Center. The latest version of our flagship weather station, the cost-effective Capricorn FLX™ , offers modular sensor selection with proven reliable, mechanical wind sensors. Additional meteorological parameter measurements include humidity, tipping-bucket rain gauge, solar radiation, and up to four temperatures (ambient air, soil and/or water). Barometric pressure is housed in the central Control Module with two more analog input channels. Especially well-suited for installations requiring individual sensors for optimal sensor placement, Capricorn weather stations are trusted by government agencies and industry leaders such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Continental Tire, and L3 Technologies. For more details, visit our website .

Do you wonder: “Why should we buy a weather station from Columbia Weather Systems?” One reason is exemplified in a recent order slated for Honduras. The customer requested an Orion™ Weather Station with a twist. He wanted to monitor the level and temperature of the water at his lakeside property. These sensors were easily incorporated via the Weather MicroServer™ with all parameters displayed on a Weather Display Console, as well as Weather Master™ Software . CWS offers customized weather monitoring solutions via: 1) a wide range of system configurations 2) with many sensor technologies, and 3) user-friendly monitoring options. What are your requirements? 

Pulsar 600 Weather Station mounted on Mobile Weather Vehicle of WCSH6 in Maine. "The best technology when it comes to data collection for weather" according to a popular broadcast meteorologist. Our top-of-the-line Pulsar™ weather station model offers all-in-one sensor module with several parameter configurations to choose from. Advanced features include Doppler radar for precipitation measurement with type and intensity, ultrasonic wind measurement with 0-75 meters per second range, and electronic compass for auto-alignment of wind direction. The Pulsar line is popular for television station mobile weather labs and other applications requiring high accuracy such as Siemens, AT&T, and Raytheon. For more details, visit our website.

The 26th Annual Winter Weather Forecast Conference is coming up! Save the date for Saturday, October 27th at the  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)  to hear Meteorologists from across the PNW give their predictions for the upcoming winter. The event is hosted by the  Oregon Chapter of The American Meteorological Society (AMS)  and is open to the public with all ages welcome.

We enjoyed a visit from  Matt Zaffino , Chief Meteorologist at  KGW-TV   yesterday. It's not often that we get visitors, so if you're interested in learning more about us, drop by and we'll show you around!

All hands on deck - shipping a record-setting order to the Department of Homeland Security. We also got the order out the door ahead of schedule. Great job, team! Shout out to our UPS driver! Celebrating the occasion with sparkling cider.

After Hurricane Irma, the Boca Raton Fire Department turned to CWS for accurate weather data in preparation for future storms. With a network of Orion™ Weather Stations utilizing the CWS Cloud Weather Server, the Boca Emergency Operations Center is now able to determine whether it is safe to send out First Responders in risky weather conditions. Thanks WPTV for the highlight!

Mechanical wind sensors on the test bench. As a component of the modular Capricorn FLX™ Weather Station, these reliable wind speed and direction sensors offer a cost-effective option for professional weather monitoring. The Capricorn’s modular design allows for individual sensor selection and placement, including up to four temperature sensors. A descendant of the flagship Capricorn Weather Station, the Capricorn line of weather stations is popular worldwide with government agencies, military, universities, and companies such as Continental Tires, Boeing, and Walsh Construction. For more info, visit: http://bit.ly/CapricornFlx

The Cell Modem communication option with the Weather MicroServer provides a remote connection to the Internet, enabling functions such as real-time data viewing, downloading datalog files, and connection to a cloud server such as Weather Underground or the proprietary CWS Cloud Weather Server. It is used by local government agencies, landfills, and weather networks. For more details, check out the MicroServer page on our website and navigate to the “Communication” tab.

According to Tom Francis, Utilities Scientific Consultant at the  UK Met Office , "The operational and financial performance of a water company is inextricably linked to weather conditions."  Here's our infographic with 5 Reasons #SmartWater #Utilities Need a Weather Station. To expand on these ideas, see the white paper at  https://columbiaweather.com/resources/5-reasons-water-utilities/

We received a visit from the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project Team on their way home from the American Solar Challenge which finished in Bend, Oregon. Columbia Weather donated a Magellan MX500™ weather station to the project. The weather station is mounted on the lead vehicle (See video above) and is used for strategy data. Met data is correlated with course info and car data to optimize speed and energy consumption. Racing in the Cruiser Class of Multi-Occupancy Vehicles, UMNSVP placed first in the Formula Sun Grand Prix (a track-based qualifier) and second in the ASC. Congratulations and thanks for stopping by!

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is the largest single environmental health crisis we face. Monitoring air quality has never been so important to global health and economy. The new Orion Air Quality Monitor expands the environmental offerings from Columbia Weather Systems to measure common gaseous pollutants Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2) , Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2) , Carbon Monoxide (CO), and ozone (O 3 ) with meteorological parameters humidity, air pressure and temperature. The Orion AQM Plus model adds particle measurements PM2.5 and PM10. Traditionally complex and expensive equipment made it challenging to monitor air quality sufficiently for localized results. This new system offers a more cost-effective solution that can be paired with additional meteorological parameters to provide a comprehensive air quality monitoring in micro-climates with complex terrains and urban areas. Monitoring is accomplished via a MicroServer which offers a variety of...

Is solar radiation data important to your company operations? We offer a range of pyranometers to fit different requirements. Click to see comparisons of the solar radiation sensors available with CWS weather stations.

We are updating these Real Time Monitoring interfaces. The new design is rolling out of production effective immediately. One update is the new wind direction pointer which clarifies where the wind is blowing from and points where the wind is blowing to. The design retains the dark background with bright lettering suitable for control room environments. A no-charge firmware upgrade is available for Weather Display consoles purchased since Version 2.4.9434, 04/24/2017. A no-charge firmware upgrade is available for Weather MicroServers purchased since 9/9/2015. Besides the new look, the MicroServer upgrade includes support for some of our newest sensors including the Pulsar 100 Doppler Radar Precipitation Monitor and the new Air Quality Monitors. If your system is prior to the above specifications, please contact us for upgrade options. Click Here for MicroServer Page Click Here for Weather Display Page

It's the longest day of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere - hoping for sun and warm weather wherever you may be!

Portland area emergency managers toured an Air National Guard mobile emergency operations center (MEOC) outfitted with an Orion Weather Station at a recent meeting. The trailer can become a command-and-control hub and dispatch to any state for on-scene communications and disaster response. Close-up of the Vehicle-Mount Orion Inside the MEOC (See Weather Display on left wall) Gary was in attendance and says the MEOC “includes all kinds of communications equipment, many computers, and an Orion Weather Station connected to the  Weather Display  inside. It is a pretty impressive piece of equipment.”

Last week Vincent and Nader had an unusual opportunity to participate in the commissioning of a new Orion Weather Station for the Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE) at the Portland International Airport. The GRE purpose is to reduce environmental noise during aircraft engine testing. Operation is impacted by weather parameters -- primarily wind and temperature. The Port of Portland operates the facility and chose an Orion™ Weather Station with Weather MicroServer to replace their old system. Vincent and Nader inspected the installation and verified the data stream. In addition to everything working smoothly as expected, a highlight of the excursion was observing a couple of military planes taking off close by. FULL STORY HERE

As we saw this past summer, hot, dry, and windy weather conditions are factors that directly affect fire risk and behavior.  Having the ability to compile real-time, location-specific met data is imperative for safe and effective firefighting. Weather monitoring at an incident assists in multiple areas such as risk management, prediction, safety, plume modeling, and reporting. Over the coming weeks, we will highlight weather monitoring in these five areas of emergency response. Make sure to look out for our first post!

The new MagellanMX™ Weather Station user guide is now available! This visual overview includes details on available monitoring options, installation, and operation. MagellanMX Weather Stations combine a multi-parameter weather sensor with an internal compass and GPS, making it especially suited for mobile and vehicle-mount applications. Click Here to View User Guide