Weather Stations Installed At All Escambia District High Schools

January 23, 2019

Weather observations are now available in real-time from each high school in Escambia County.

Recent tragedies involving students participating in outdoor sports and activities in harsh weather conditions have led to an increased focus on finding ways to predict conditions which may be hazardous to students. Advance knowledge of extreme temperatures and humidity levels is important, especially for students and staff members participating in outdoor activities or events, according to the Escambia County School District.

Visit escambia.weatherstem.com to see the weather observations.

The traditional system of measuring temperature and humidity, known as the heat index, has been improved by adding measurements of radiation from the sun and wind to provide a new metric known as a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).

“Using a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to gauge the heat and humidity is far more accurate because it also considers wind speed and solar radiation. However, conditions can change quickly and getting updated readings every half-hour takes the proper equipment and dedicated manpower. Many schools around the state do not have the equipment or an extra trained, responsible person to dedicate to this, so athletic directors across Florida are very happy to have weather stations from WeatherSTEM to rely on instead,” explained Escambia County School District’s Director of Athletics Roger Mayo.

“We are pleased to announce that all Escambia County public high schools now have access to real-time, WBGT information and predictions provided by WeatherSTEM,” added Mayo.

Each WeatherSTEM unit has a variety of sensors that collect data including solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, amounts and the rate of rainfall, wind speed and wind direction. They are powered by a solar panel and they transmit the data collected to WeatherSTEM where the data can be compiled into a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature which provides guidance to principals, coaches, band directors as well as other instructors and student leaders. Each station includes placement of sensors in two locations, one high and one at field level. The height of the first location also allows a camera to transmit a view of the sky above the school’s field.

Escambia County’s Superintendent Malcolm Thomas explained that installing the stations at the high schools will be beneficial to all ECSD schools. “The information available to us will reduce the chance of our students experiencing heat stroke by giving us information about increasing water breaks, having ice available or canceling outdoor activities all together. Installing the WeatherSTEM equipment is a great investment, especially if even one student is prevented from experiencing hazardous conditions.

“When you look at the data available at Escambia.WeatherSTEM.com, such as the temperature and humidity levels, you will see that our elementary and middle school administrators will be able to use the results from the high schools closest to their campus to get information to adjust plans for outdoor activities,” said Thomas.

Principals, coaches and teachers will be able to receive alerts when conditions reach a set level, or when predictions warn of dangerous levels. These predictions will give coaches and other instructors the ability to plan when they may need to adjust their schedules, practice in the morning, start practice later, stay inside or bring extra water and ice.

Pictured top: The WeatherSTEM station on the press box above Northview High School’s football stadium. Pictured below: The weather station at Tate High School. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Weather Stations Installed At All Escambia District High Schools”

  1. BB on January 24th, 2019 10:06 am

    Awesome!!! Go Chiefs!!!

  2. anne 1of2 on January 23rd, 2019 10:54 am

    Looks like a robot with arms and hands to me.

  3. Angel on January 23rd, 2019 8:47 am

    Well we use to have enough common sense to come inside when we needed to. But apparently we need a machine to tell us now. And I suppose this will make school officials liable should a student become ill or worse while outside participating in school activity. So with this knowledge comes responsibility folks. And accountability

  4. Gayle Weaver on January 23rd, 2019 7:51 am

    It has a lightning indicator with moving window of time from the last strike.

  5. Reader5 on January 23rd, 2019 7:46 am

    Why not a lighting distance indicator also?

    There is one on the page

  6. Dredmon Recon on January 23rd, 2019 7:14 am

    Überkewl.

  7. Oversight on January 23rd, 2019 6:51 am

    Why not a lighting distance indicator also?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News