Mesonet Collects Weather Data in Real-Time
Noble research and demonstration farms and ranches host three Mesonet sites, which help producers across the state adjust to fluctuating climate pressures.
No farmer has won a fight with the weather. Temperature, wind and precipitation can quickly change from agriculture’s unyielding adversaries to its allies. Since weather determines the difference between a decent or disastrous harvest, farmers and ranchers need accurate real-time forecasts. For Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, the best tool to combat Mother Nature’s vagaries is the statewide monitoring system called the Mesonet.
Measurements Every 5 Minutes
The Mesonet takes the guesswork out of weather prediction thanks to a network of 120 monitoring stations that includes at least one weather tower in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. The automated stations transmit measurements to a central facility every five minutes, every day. This system features weather monitoring basics plus multiple maps detailing soil temperature, changes in dewpoint, cattle comfort and other measures across the state.
Access Online or in App
All the real-time updates can be viewed for free online or in the Mesonet app. The Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) at the University of Oklahoma receives every measurement the towers collect and verifies the information to ensure its accuracy. It takes less than 10 minutes for measurements to be uploaded online for use by farmers and ranchers across the state.
Weather Data for Ag
The Mesonet is a cooperative venture between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. OSU’s primary goal at the Mesonet’s founding in 1994 was to expand the use of weather data in agricultural applications. The project remains the gold standard for weather monitoring networks and offers the ultimate hack for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in the digital era.
Agriculture Tools Available Through Mesonet
Find these tools and more at www.mesonet.org.
- Black Rot Advisor
- Cattle Comfort Advisor
- Drift Risk Advisor
- Fire Prescription Planner
- First Hollow Stem Advisor
- Irrigation Planner
- Mesonet Monthly Rainfall Table
- Peanut Leaf Spot Advisor
- Pecan Scab Advisor
- Wheat Growth Day Counter
Arielle Farve
Arielle Farve, Former Intern
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