NYS Mesonet Hosts First Annual Symposium to Celebrate Network Success

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 5, 2021) – The University at Albany hosted the first New York State Mesonet Symposium last Wednesday, gathering more than 150 attendees in academia, government and the private sector.

The Symposium, which will now be an annual event, included a full day of presentations in the Campus Center Multipurpose Room that focused on the research, operational uses and other topics related to the weather network. All presentations were broadcast via Zoom.

President Rodríguez offered opening remarks, touting the success of the NYS Mesonet in advancing situational awareness and resiliency around severe weather events.

“Fundamentally, the Mesonet is a tool designed with an ultimate goal to protect life and property throughout the state, enhancing emergency preparedness and response strategies to minimize and mitigate the impacts of severe weather events in our communities,” he said. “We are very proud to be hosting this gathering and appreciate your engagement, support and active participation in this vital conversation about how the Mesonet can create a better future for New Yorkers.”

Group photo from the first NYS Mesonet Symposium. — *Group picture from the first annual NYS Mesonet Symposium. (Photo by Sam Cherubin)*

The NYS Mesonet launched in 2014 and is headquartered at UAlbany. It is comprised of 126 standard weather stations located throughout the state. The stations are spaced within 20 miles of each other, including at least one in every county and borough. Each offers continuous updates of localized weather variables, such as current temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation, humidity, snow depth and soil moisture. New data is available every five minutes with real-time camera images.

In addition, the NYS Mesonet operates 17 profiler sites that are comprised of a scanning Doppler LiDAR and a microwave radiometer. It also partners with Con Edison, the energy company that serves New York City and Westchester County, on a secondary weather network called the NYC Micronet that is located on company properties within the City’s five boroughs.

Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul referenced the NYS Mesonet for its role in providing historic rainfall numbers from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. New York State Senator John Brooks also recently toured Mesonet headquarters on campus.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is leading a push to secure $3 million in federal funding to enhance and support the network.