AgWeatherNet 2024 Highlights: Milestones Achieved and a Vision for 2025.
With the start of 2025, AgWeatherNet (AWN) reflects on a year of innovation, growth, and service to the agricultural community. Here are some of the highlights from the past year:
Network Growth and Upgrades
- Mesonet Expansion: The network grew to 53 stations, with new sites in Forks, Joyce, and Clyde. The Sunnyside station was rebuilt one mile south of its original location. Data for all these stations is available at weather.wsu.edu.
- Air Quality Network Expansion: With support from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, AWN enhanced its air quality network across the state.
Portal Enhancements and New Features
AWN continued to modernize its web portal to improve user experience. Updates throughout the year included
- Station-Specific Weather Pages with enhanced data tables and interactive graphs;
- Voice Alerts through which users can receive phone calls when custom alert criteria are met, ensuring timely notifications;
- 24-Hour Inversion Forecasts made available for 21 Mesonet tower stations, assisting growers in spring frost mitigation by evaluating the potential benefits of wind machine use.
Spring Frost Program
AWN supports frost mitigation with daily forecasts for the Yakima Valley/Central Basin and Wenatchee/Okanogan growing districts. Growers can submit frost reports via the portal, fostering collaboration. This initiative, backed by the Washington State Tree Fruit Association and a WSDA SCBG Program grant, provides critical decision support during vulnerable growing periods. To access frost forecasts or report frost events for the current season, visit Spring Frost Program.
Educational Outreach: “Weather with AWN” Webinar Series
In 2024, AWN launched a new webinar series, Weather with AWN, providing valuable resources to growers, researchers, and stakeholders. The interactive sessions covered topics on
- Cold Hardiness Models, providing critical insights for grape and blueberry growers.
- Frost Protection Tools for practical strategies for mitigating frost damage.
- Heat stress and Air Quality Data showcasing how to access each station and utilize this critical information.
- Tier 3 Private Station Program offering real-time quality assurance, an integrated organizational dashboard, site-specific alerts, and support for site selection and maintenance.
Session recordings are available at www.youtube.com/@AgWeatherNet
Looking Ahead
AgWeatherNet’s efforts in 2024 strengthened its reputation as a leader in agricultural decision support. With ongoing updates to its technology, expanded resources for growers, and a focus on community engagement, AWN is poised for continued expansion and improved services in 2024.
Contact
Jaitun Patel
Weather Data Scientist
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