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Highland

November 22, 2022

Paula Campbell
Posted 11/22/22

The winter of 2022 is well underway with some really cold temperatures and historic snow fall totals up north of us. Did you know that we have a weather station sponsored by the University of Albany …

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Highland

November 22, 2022

Posted

The winter of 2022 is well underway with some really cold temperatures and historic snow fall totals up north of us. Did you know that we have a weather station sponsored by the University of Albany and the NYS Division of Homeland Security right in the hamlet of Eldred? Since August of 2016 It has been located up behind the Highland Senior Center on Route 55. It is part of a network of 126 weather stations throughout New York State called NYS Mesonet. The term “Meso” refers to any weather phenomena that range in size from less than a mile to hundreds of miles long and last a few minutes or up to hours. Each of the stations use solar panels and are equipped with outdoor cameras, advanced sensors that collect data every 3 to 30 seconds then automatically calculates five-minute averages on temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, snow and rain depth, soil temperature and moisture levels. Sponsored by New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Mesonet weather system is one of the nation’s most advanced detection system, and the weather stations data is transmitted to scientists at the University of Albany’s Tier3 Certified Scientific Data Center. It is then processed into files and sent to emergency managers throughout the State, utility companies, ground and air transportation hubs, farms and other weather-related businesses and the general public for use in forecasting and decision making. In fact, one recent research study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado found that New York State was the most economically sensitive state to weather and climate variability. This Early Warning Severe Detection System saves billions of dollars by facilitating rapid response to catastrophic weather events. 

Some of the best features about the Eldred Mesonet weather station is that you can access it online in real time and get 3D analysis and there is even a section where you can request data from the system be sent to you by the scientists managing the site! It hosts data on present conditions as well as graphs on weather patterns and comparisons. To see the weather station, go to nysmesonet.org then to the mesoNow tab and then scroll down to Eldred or whatever town in the state you are interested in. 

Several people have asked me about the Santa Express. I called Lou Monteleone, and he told me the given the deteriorating conditions of the Express truck and the huge increase in the insurance, the Santa Express will not be operating anytime soon.  I did notice in Eldred that there are two new Christmas trees installed by the Monteleone’s Hydro farm. Lou told me that Santa and his friends will be hosting the first ever Christmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 4 at the Hydro Farm. For more details visit Lou’s Facebook page. Lou also reminded me that the Santa’s Village of Giving will open up for donations for several charities at the Piazza on Thanksgiving weekend and be ready for drop offs every day.  I will list further details as they become available. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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