It's National Weather Observers Day!
Alan Brue, a student at the State University of New York, started Weather Observers Day on May 4, 1989, for weather enthusiasts, both amateur and professional, to share their passion for weather observation and prediction.
July 27, 1866-The Transatlantic cable that worked
People have been observing and recording their observations about the weather for centuries. But until the 1800s there was no fast and efficient way to share their observations with others. That all changed with the invention of the telegraph, and later the telephone. Suddenly it was possible to share weather information in (almost) real-time. By the time the National Weather Service was established as part of the Army Signal Corps in 1870, hundreds of people were already telegraphing weather information from stations across the country.
January 25, 1915: First phone call across the continent
When the National Weather Bureau became a civilian agency in 1890, the legislation also established the Cooperative Observer Program or COOP. COOP is the great-grandaddy of volunteer weather observation networks; The Weather Service calls it 'truly the Nation's weather and climate observing network of, by and for the people.' More than 8,700 volunteers take daily observations of temperature and precipitation and send their reports to NWS. (Just as the telephone replaced the telegraph farms, the internet is supplanting the telephone.)The readings come from everywhere – rural, urban, and suburban areas, the tops of mountains, and the shores of lakes and oceans.
How does the National Weather Service categorize severe weather?
COOP is by no means the only weather-observing network. There are local, state, national, and international organizations collecting, consolidating, and sharing data. There are too many to include in this article; here is a couple that bounced to the top in our internet searches:
The Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) began with ham radio operators. Over 6500 private citizens broadcast their temperature, wind, relative humidity, and pressure observations, which feed into the NOAA MADIS system. and current data is available for free over the internet.
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHs) were founded in 1998 as a result of a flood in Fort Collins, Colorado the year before. It went national in 2010 and is now international in scope. They concentrate on collecting information about precipitation.
For more about COOPS, click here.
For More about CWOP, click here.
For more about CoCoRaHs, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hot, and possibly stormy, holiday weekend ahead for the Fourth of July, NASCAR Chicago Street Race
With the Fourth of July and the annual NASCAR Chicago Street Race making for a jam-packed few days ahead, Chicagoans can expect a hot — and potentially stormy — holiday weekend. Should weather predictions hold, forecasts called for temperatures hovering in the mid-90s Friday and Saturday, with a 50% chance of thunderstorms by Sunday afternoon, said Kevin Birk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Advertisement 'The main thing that's going to be consistent through the weekend is just that overall hot summer weather here,' Birk said. Sunday is looking to be slightly cooler, with temperatures possibly dipping into the 80s, but Birk said to expect 'still very humid highs.' Before noon Friday, there was a 30-40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, but conditions were expected to dry out later in the day, Birk said. 'So fireworks time (Friday) evening looks dry,' he said. Forecasts also indicated that Saturday would be mostly dry, Birk said. As for Sunday, Birk said there's a 50% chance of scattered storms anytime from noon to 7 p.m., adding 'that could go up as we get closer here.' Advertisement Should thunderstorms hit the city this weekend, it would mark the third rainy NASCAR race weekend in a row. Last year, the race weekend's main event — the Grant Park 165 — faced lengthy delays sparked by intermittent downpours. The year before, racers faced lightning and flash flood warnings. Still, this year's event is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees. The city is set to host the street race on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. The Xfinity Series' Loop 110, which features mostly younger, up-and-coming NASCAR drivers, will be broadcast on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on the CW Network and local affiliate WGN-TV. The Grant Park 165 Cup Series race will air Sunday at 1 p.m. on the cable network TNT. The race comes as NASCAR is reportedly in negotiations to hold a street race in San Diego next year, which may be in addition to Chicago, or perhaps will replace the Chicago one. Advertisement Mayor Brandon Johnson didn't answer directly when asked Tuesday if he wants the NASCAR race to continue beyond this weekend, saying, 'It's about having conversations to make sure we're getting the most out of this experience.' Johnson also nodded to the rain that has plagued recent editions of the Chicago Street Race. 'First of all, we're just hoping this year there's good weather,' he said at a City Hall news conference. 'It looks like Saturday we're going to be OK. Sunday is a little iffy, a little cloudy.' Chicago Tribune's Robert Channick contributed. tkenny@
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Hot, and possibly stormy, holiday weekend ahead for the Fourth of July, NASCAR Chicago Street Race
With the Fourth of July and the annual NASCAR Chicago Street Race making for a jam-packed few days ahead, Chicagoans can expect a hot — and potentially stormy — holiday weekend. Should weather predictions hold, forecasts called for temperatures hovering in the mid-90s Friday and Saturday, with a 50% chance of thunderstorms by Sunday afternoon, said Kevin Birk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. 'The main thing that's going to be consistent through the weekend is just that overall hot summer weather here,' Birk said. Sunday is looking to be slightly cooler, with temperatures possibly dipping into the 80s, but Birk said to expect 'still very humid highs.' Before noon Friday, there was a 30-40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, but conditions were expected to dry out later in the day, Birk said. 'So fireworks time (Friday) evening looks dry,' he said. Forecasts also indicated that Saturday would be mostly dry, Birk said. As for Sunday, Birk said there's a 50% chance of scattered storms anytime from noon to 7 p.m., adding 'that could go up as we get closer here.' Should thunderstorms hit the city this weekend, it would mark the third rainy NASCAR race weekend in a row. Last year, the race weekend's main event — the Grant Park 165 — faced lengthy delays sparked by intermittent downpours. The year before, racers faced lightning and flash flood warnings. Still, this year's event is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees. The city is set to host the street race on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. The Xfinity Series' Loop 110, which features mostly younger, up-and-coming NASCAR drivers, will be broadcast on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on the CW Network and local affiliate WGN-TV. The Grant Park 165 Cup Series race will air Sunday at 1 p.m. on the cable network TNT. The race comes as NASCAR is reportedly in negotiations to hold a street race in San Diego next year, which may be in addition to Chicago, or perhaps will replace the Chicago one. Mayor Brandon Johnson didn't answer directly when asked Tuesday if he wants the NASCAR race to continue beyond this weekend, saying, 'It's about having conversations to make sure we're getting the most out of this experience.' Johnson also nodded to the rain that has plagued recent editions of the Chicago Street Race. 'First of all, we're just hoping this year there's good weather,' he said at a City Hall news conference. 'It looks like Saturday we're going to be OK. Sunday is a little iffy, a little cloudy.'
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Over 1.5m Americans Told To Stay Out of Sun on 4th of July
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Heat-related advisories were in place across four states on Friday, July 4, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of "dangerously hot conditions" in some areas. Why It Matters The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, especially in older adults, young children, and individuals with chronic medical conditions. Symptoms may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea. The agency reports that more than 700 people die annually in the U.S. due to extreme heat. Rising temperatures can also worsen ground-level ozone, adding to health risks. New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heat wave on June 25, 2025 in New York City. New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heat wave on June 25, 2025 in New York City. CraigWhat To Know An extreme heat warning, which the NWS issues when "extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring," was in effect for northeast Minnesota, including Crow Wing, Aitkin, Pine, Koochiching, Cass, Itasca, Carlton and Saint Louis counties. The warning also covered the northwestern Wisconsin counties of Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, and Washburn counties. Heat index values, which reflect how hot it feels to the human body when both humidity and air temperature are considered, between 95 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit were possible in these regions, the NWS said. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room if possible, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," it advised. Meanwhile, less severe heat advisories were in place across parts of North Dakota and Alaska, as well as Wisconsin and Minnesota. Northeast and southeast portions of North Dakota could see heat index values up to 101, the NWS said. It advised residents in affected areas to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, and limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. In Alaska, heat advisories covered parts of the state's interior, northern and northwest areas. The NWS expected hot temperatures ranging from 75 to 90 across the affected areas. "Individuals not accustomed to these unusually hot temperatures for this region may experience heat-related illnesses," it warned. What People Are Saying The National Weather Service forecast office, Duluth, Minnesota, said on X, Thursday: "A Heat Advisory is in effect Friday for all areas except the North Shore when very warm temperatures in the mid-80s to low 90s F and dewpoints in the upper-60s to low-70s F will create Heat Index values in the low to upper-90s." NWS Grand Forks, North Dakota, said on X, Thursday: "Heat and humidity will combine to create heat impacts Friday afternoon. Apparent temperatures will rise to over 100 degrees in spots. Impacts will be highest for those out in direct sunlight. Make sure to stay hydrated and move to a cooler area if needed." What Happens Next At the time of writing, the extreme heat warning for Minnesota and Wisconsin was in effect until 8 p.m. CDT.
