National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Weather Observer Needed!

The National Weather Service office in Buffalo NY is looking for a volunteer weather observer, to take over the observing station in or within about 5 miles of Sodus Center, including the communities of Sodus, Sodus Center, Alton and East Williamson. This observing station would be a part of the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Network or Coop Network. The Coop Network comprises nearly 10,000 volunteer weather observers Nationwide that report high/low temperatures, rainfall, snowfall and snow depth to the National Weather Service on a daily basis. The data from Coop Observers helps scientists to define the long term climate of the United States. Of the 10,000 Coop Weather Observing Stations across the country, only about a thousand stations have a continuous weather record dating back 70 or more years. Weather observations for Sodus Center have been taken every day since 1922. We would like to continue the tradition of daily weather observations, and the National Weather Service is looking for someone to continue the weather record for Sodus.

Observers would take daily measurements of a 24 hour high/low temperatures, precipitation, snowfall and snow depth, at the same time each evening around 5 pm. These observations would be relayed daily to the National Weather Service, either via the Internet or a toll-free phone number. These weather observations will be archived and use by future climate and research studies.

The Observer will be provided with an electronic thermometer, a rain gauge and a snow measuring stick.

These observations will assist the National Weather Service in its forecast and warning efforts, is vital to climatologists who are defining the climate of the United States and will help to predict drought conditions, agricultural planning and assessment, and more.

If you are interested in helping us out, or have any questions about the duties of a Coop Observer, please contact us at the address below, or you may call us at 716-565-0204, or send an email to Dan.Kelly@noaa.gov

National Weather Service
587 Aero Dr
Buffalo, NY 14225