Updates

07/08/25: Over the weekend, I repainted the solar shield (housing for the temperature-humidity sensor) as it was fading after over 7 years of active service in Michigan. The outside is now glossy white. The inside is painted matte black which mimics the color scheme of other modern WMO-compliant shields like the Campbell Scientific Rad series, Barani Meteoshield Professional, and Cometeo Professional enclosures.

We've had a couple good days for testing the shield (low wind, high solar radiation at times) and it's done great! It tracks nearby Millard Airport within about +1° (max +2°) Fahrenheit! Many other passively ventilated stations, some of which are closer, have +2-5° errors consistently under these conditions -- not all of which is from their shielding. They could also be subject to reflected heat from nearby surfaces.

06/26/25: I installed a different solar shield with a newer thermal sensor. Previously, I was using a passive Davis VP2 shield with an aging (9 year old) temperature/humidity sensor. It had a wet bias when measuring humidity of about 10% between approximately 30-80%. It topped out at about 95%. I have an algorithm to correct all these errors that keeps the sensor in line with Millard Airport for the most part. Except... during driving rain. The old shield allowed water to sit against the sensor. I just so happen to have a better Davis solar shield (#7714) that not only is better at keeping rain/snow out, it's superior in low-wind, high sun conditions. My only concern is that the sensor in it tends to have a shifting wet bias after extended high humidity periods (>85%) that very difficult to correct. We'll see if improves with age (it's about 3 years old). Update 7/8/25: the high humidity recovery process is acceptable for a passive shield!

06/14/25: I have moved the anemometer (wind speed sensor) to the new 25 ft flagpole! Because of it's elevated location, it's only blocked to the west (neighbor's house) as it's "height above terrain" places it above the roofline of our house. So far it is measuring better than expected with southerly winds (our most common direction)!

05/23/25: I have temporarily raised the anemometer (wind speed sensor) to about 19 ft above ground level. Currently, it shares the same mounting location as the temperature/humidity/rainfall/solar sensors. In the coming weeks I will install a 25 ft flagpole. Once complete, I will transfer the "whirlybird" up there for more accurate readings. There will be obstructions (houses) immediately to the west and northeast, but those are not prevailing wind directions in Omaha. The most common directions here for wind are south/southeast and north/northwest. The site I have chosen for the pole will measure those directions well.

However, our speeds will measure lower than, say, if the same equipment were installed in the relatively flat expanse at nearby Boystown. So when the forecast calls for 50 mph wind gusts, expect 25 to 35 mph to register here. Likewise 20 mph sustained winds work out to about 10 mph in neighborhoods like Trendwood. Hills, trees and structures create friction which slow winds. Readings cited by the media are often taken at airports which, of course, are quite flat and unobstructed.

04/16/25: Air quality readings from our PurpleAir sensor are now online! Important to have this running in advance of wildfire season.

10/17/24: Went live with new website! Welcome to neighbors, friends and family who are reading this! This is where I (John) will talk about the latest weather (including upcoming forecasts or recently past events). Also you can check in here for news on website updates such as feature additions or bug fixes.