Local residents' weather input crucial to documenting weather across the United States
(Talk of the Town photo by Brentley Lothamer) Above, from left, Bob Furnas, Eric Arter, Mike Cook, Rick Kreischer and Austin Babb accepted the award for the Columbia City Water Pollution Control Facility.
By Brentley Lothamer
The National Weather Service Cooperative Program spans all 50 states…collecting weather observations from numerous volunteer weather observers for the climate database, weather forecasts, and for the protection of life and property.
A vital part in the process of monitoring news across the United States involves those at the local level collecting and sharing information. The employees at the Columbia City Water Pollution Control Facility have been taking weather observations for the National Weather Service since 1986.
Daily observations include the maximum and minimum temperatures, soil temperatures, 24 hour rainfall amounts, 24 hour snowfall amounts, snow depth, and snowfall water equivalent. The data collected is ingested daily into each new weather model run, and helps to paint an aerial picture of how much rainfall/snowfall has fallen in the area. An automatic rain gage collects rainfall/melted snowfall data every 15 minutes. Then every month the data from the automated rain gage is sent to the Northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service.
Here are just a few examples of the weather that the Columbia City Water Pollution Control Facility has recorded:
- On June 26, 1988, the Water Pollution Control Facility recorded a high of 103 degrees.
- On January 19, 1994, the plant recorded a low of -24 degrees with the very next day coming in with a low of -23 degrees. - The highest monthly rainfall total that they have recorded is 11.60 inches back in June 1986.
- The highest yearly precipitation total they recorded was 1990 at 54.88 inches and the lowest was 2010 at 29.46 inches.
- The highest monthly snowfall total they recorded was 18.0 inches in January 2003.
The data is also used to build a climatic database of the United States. Volunteer weather observers, such as at the Columbia City Water Pollution Control Facility, conscientiously contribute their time so that observations can provide the vital information needed. These data are invaluable in learning more about the floods, droughts, heat and cold waves affecting us all. The data is also used in agricultural planning, engineering, environmental-impact assessment, utilities planning, and litigation. COOP data plays a critical role in efforts to recognize and evaluate the extent of human impacts on climate.
The National Weather Service is very grateful to weather observers like the Columbia City Water Pollution Control Facility.