District emergency management services will be able to get “real time” weather data in the near future after town council passed a bylaw Monday night to approve an agreement with the Ministry of the Environment to have a reference climate weather station at the Fort Frances Airport.
Early last year, former Fort Frances fire chief and emergency management co-ordinator Steve Richardson identified a need to be better equipped to get “real time” data regarding weather forecasting in Fort Frances, current fire chief Gerry Armstrong said in a report to council.
“The need for real time data can be invaluable when determining the need for preventative/protective action in the event of a natural disaster, such as wind, hail, lightning, intense rain, or flooding,” noted Chief Armstrong.
At Richardson’s request, Environment Canada looked into the feasibility of a weather station at the local airport.
An environmental assessment was completed and a site meeting at the airport provided the necessary information to come up with an agreement.
The weather station will be a small structure contained within a fenced compound, noted Chief Armstrong.
It will house computer equipment necessary to operate the station, as well be provided with a telephone line and hydro-electric power.
The unmanned weather station is equipped with sensors to provide “real time” data on such things as wind direction and speed, temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity.
The data can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by local radio and TV stations, every hour on the hour, to assist in providing up to the minute weather happenings.
As well, Environment Canada, local emergency management officials, and organizations can access data if they have to.
The fence, structure and equipment will be paid for, installed, and maintained by Environment Canada, and remain that agency’s responsibility for the duration of the agreement with the town.
(The recently-approved agreement runs from Oct. 31, 2006-Oct. 30, 2016).
Environment Canada will pay the town $100 annually for the leased land.
The town, for its part, will maintain the grounds and provide snow removal of access roads.
Now that the site for the weather station and corresponding agreement are approved, airport and parks superintendent Bill Caul said it may be built as early as August.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
