Maryland will construct 75 weather observance towers across the state to more quickly and accurately collect weather data and improve disaster response, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday.
The state has partnered with the University of Maryland to build and operate the network of towers, called Maryland Mesonet, with a commitment of $4 million in state funds.
Maryland Mesonet will be “a world-class network of state-of-the-art environmental monitoring stations to provide real-time data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” Hogan said in a statement.
He added that the “ambitious project … will give our emergency managers even faster and more accurate satellite data to make critical decisions about preparedness and deploying resources.”
State and local emergency management officials will be able to tap into the tower network to receive data and analysis to help them improve public safety, minimize risks to their communities, and apply for disaster relief programs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also be able to gather high-resolution meteorological observations from Maryland Mesonet to help better inform regional weather forecasts and protect communities.
“We are proud that the Maryland Mesonet expands the University of Maryland’s deep commitment to service for our state,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines in a statement. “Weather has been increasingly challenging to predict, and our scientists will play a leading role in providing high-resolution atmospheric data to NOAA to improve regional weather forecasts. We will also work to inform local decision-makers who can better protect Marylanders and their businesses.”
“Mesonet,” refers to a “mesoscale network,” a group of stations used to monitor and collect data on weather events.
Maryland Mesonet will help develop mesonet-data-based applications for state and local agencies, the [National Weather Service], Maryland school systems, farmers, fishermen, water managers, air-quality monitors, wind and solar energy producers, transportation professionals, and the media,” state officials said.
Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russ Strickland said the network will allow officials to warn residents of extreme weather events further in advance.
“This partnership means that Maryland residents and visitors will receive better forecasts and earlier lead time for severe weather warnings, like severe thunderstorm, tornado, and flash flood,” Strickland said in a statement. “Through continued monitoring, threshold alerting, instant verification, and post-event analysis, the Maryland Mesonet will provide more data to our emergency management team to continually improve planning and processes, and will set a roadmap for a more weather-resilient Maryland.”
I’d love to know where they will be placed throughout the state… being in Ocean City.