Do you own a personal weather station? Consider joining the Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) to share your data with the National Weather Service. By contributing, you can play a vital role in improving weather forecasts and severe weather warnings for your area!

Why Your Data Matters

Your weather data will become part of the tools used by National Weather Service offices nationwide. It helps meteorologists monitor evolving weather conditions, improve forecasts, and issue better severe weather warnings, keeping communities safer.

Additionally, data submitted to CWOP is integrated into the National Weather Service's advanced computer models, allowing us to produce more reliable forecasts and warnings for your area and beyond.

Curious to see what stations are already sending data? Click here to see active weather stations in northern Arizona.

Requirements

Signing up for CWOP is easy and free. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A properly sited weather station to ensure accurate readings. For guidance on placement, refer to this guide.
• Weather station software or a web interface capable of sending data to CWOP.
• A stable and reliable internet connection to transmit your data.

Once registered, you’ll receive a unique station ID. This ID allows your data to be ingested into NOAA’s MADIS system, where it is made available to meteorologists, researchers, and other weather enthusiasts.

How to Get Started

1. Click here to sign up and register your station.

2. Add your CWOP Station ID to the software or web interface for your weather station. This will vary depending on the manufacturer, so refer to the user manual that came with your specific station.

3. Confirm your data is being sent using the CWOP Search Tool or by looking for your station on NOAA’s MADIS Surface Observations map. You should see data start to appear in 5-15 minutes, however it can take up to a week for data to appear on NWS webpages.