ATLANTA,None — Seventy-eight weather stations across Georgia may be shut down by summer due to a lack of funding.
The Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network is nearly 20 years old and provides 19 weather variables (temperature, winds, humidity, rainfall, etc.) to many users. The network costs $300,000 a year to maintain and that funding is set to end by June 30.
The network's data is used by dozens of organizations including WSB-TV, Georgia Power, National Weather Service, USGS, Georgia Forestry, many agricultural businesses, schools and insurance companies.
"This network provides us with critical weather data. The real-time temperature is paramount in winter weather forecasting. The loss of that information is irreplaceable," said Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley.
"It's invaluable," said Ken Mangum, director of Golf and Grounds at the Atlanta Athletic Club. "My staff checks the data 40 to 50 times a day. It's timely information for the members and certainly plays a role in preparation for the PGA Championship to be held here in August. If this service goes away, I don't know what I will do."
The University of Georgia started the program and maintains it today. Officials at UGA hope that the many users will find a way to fund the project long term.
WSBTV
