County accepts Public Safety Foundation funding to double local weather station network

Stearns County commissioners voted to accept funding from the Public Safety Foundation to expand the county’s network of weather monitoring equipment, the board heard on Oct. 5.

County Emergency Management Director Aaron Hughes said the county currently maintains eight weather stations and provides training and coordination with Central Minnesota Skywarn and the National Weather Service. “Right now, we have 8 weather stations, positioned throughout the county,” Hughes said, describing the county’s work to supply tools and resources that make severe-weather information actionable for public safety decisions.

The county will add 10 new automated weather stations and distribute handheld anemometers to public safety departments with the Foundation’s support. Kent Bellica, board chair of the Public Safety Foundation, told commissioners his organization “would be happy to partner” and provide funding should the board approve the project. Jennifer Odette, the foundation’s executive director, said the project matches the foundation’s mission to support Greater St. Cloud-area public safety.

Commissioners asked how the expanded network would function and whether it would track air quality. Hughes said the stations will measure precipitation, temperature and wind speed and that the handheld anemometers will provide measured wind speeds for both severe-weather response and for on-the-ground safety decisions at public events. “This is primarily broader weather,” he said, adding that particulate monitoring is a separate technical capability “maybe someday” but not part of this project now.

Staff noted siting challenges in some rural parts of the county where power and reliable internet are limited; Hughes said the 10 proposed sites meet current installation requirements but the county will continue outreach to identify additional locations. Commissioners moved and seconded acceptance of the foundation funding; the motion carried on voice vote.

The county will work with the foundation and public-safety partners to place signage and coordinate installation and to share station output with the National Weather Service to support warning decisions.