Observation Programs

SAWRS Program

Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Stations

SAWRS defined - A facility where weather observations are taken, prepared, and transmitted by a local operator (NWS certified) under federal government supervision. A SAWRS is established at an airport (includes offshore platforms' helipads) when the FAA has determined that the weather observations are needed to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration Regulations 121 or 135, or for the safe conduct of other aircraft operations.

At present, WFO Lake Charles has 5 SAWRS located on oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. They are operated by PHI (Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.) and Air Logistics, Inc. We also have 3 inland sites.

OFFSHORE SITES

Site Name	Station I.D.	Coordinates	Operator	Location from Land
High Island 264C	KH08	28° 28" N 93° 44" W	PHI	80 NM South of Cameron
South Timbalier 300	KS58	28° 09" N 90° 43" W	PHI	85 NM South of Houma
Mississippi Canyon 778	KH78	28° 11" N 88° 29" W	Air Log	100 NM South of Cameron
Ship Shoal 207A	KGSM	28° 32" N 90° 59" W	Air Log	65 NM South of Houma
South Marsh 268A	KSRN	29° 07" N 91° 52" W	Air Log	48 NM South Southwest of Morgan City

Clicking a station I.D. will give you the station's latest weather information.
*Due to observation requirements, some observations in the tables may be several hours, and in some cases, days old.

During tropical weather events in the Gulf, these stations are extremely useful and greatly appreciated for their timely observations in dangerous weather situations in support of the National Weather Service and especially the National Hurricane Center.

Image of a PHI helicopter preparing to land on a platform in the Gulf

PHI helicopter preparing to land on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

INLAND SITES

Site Name	Station I.D.
Intracoastal City, La.*	K7R4
Amelia, La.*	K7R3
Creole, La.*	K4C0
Fourchon, La.	K9F2
Grand Isle, La.**	KAXO
Venice (Boothville), La.	KBVE
Ellington Field, Tx.	KEFD
* within NWS Lake Charles County Warning Area
** temporarily inactive

The HydroMet staff's duties are:

Sending supplies to each station.
Station inspections (twice yearly) and upkeep of station history.
Responding to questions from the stations.

For more in-depth information on SAWRS, click here.

For more about NWS certification, click here.

A link to Gulf Coast observations can be found by clicking here.

All observations are in METAR. A breakdown of the code can be viewed by clicking here.

A link to conversion tables is also available. Click here.