New York Department of Environmental Protection and National Weather Service Team to Share Data, Improve Forecasts

The Commerce Department’s NOAA and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection today announced the two organizations have agreed to share real-time weather data collected by the DEP in the New York watershed to enhance weather forecasts in the region.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Eastern Region Director Dean P. Gulezian and DEP Region Commissioner Christopher O. Ward made the joint announcement and outlined the benefits of the new agreement.

“Our partnership helps provide the public with the best weather and water information science and technology that exists today,” Gulezian said. “It is part of our commitment to ensure the best meteorological and hydrologic information is available.”

The DEP operates 26 weather stations throughout the watershed, including 21 in the 1,600-square-mile West of Hudson watershed and five in the 400-square-mile East of Hudson watershed. The stations monitor temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation and precipitation. Data is sent to DEP offices automatically every 15 minutes through phone lines.

“This partnership will result in more accurate storm and weather forecasting for watershed residents, as well as improvements to the forecasts that the DEP uses to help manage the New York City water system,” said Commissioner Ward. “By sharing our data, we are able to take advantage of the National Weather Service’s expertise in analyzing and translating information into real-world projections. We look forward to working with the National Weather Service to help improve forecasts for the benefit of all involved.”

Under the new partnership, a system has been created to transmit the data to the NWS at the same time it is received by the DEP. So far, 23 of the 26 stations are connected, with the other three to be connected this summer. The DEP’s 26 weather stations cost a total of about $350,000 to build.

“The importance of sharing data to provide more accurate forecasting information for vital resources is a priority at the NWS,” Gulezian said. “The shared data will expand our coverage in the watershed area and enable us to make more accurate forecasts of major weather events in this region. "

The shared data will help the National Weather Service expand its coverage in the watershed and make forecasts of storm warnings, floods and other weather events in the region more accurate. The expanded coverage will allow NWS to better predict storms and precipitation trends that will help the DEP manage the water system more efficiently.

This project began as a request from the Flood Advisory Committee of the Delaware River Basin Commission, which was seeking ways to forecast dangerous conditions on the Upper Delaware River more accurately.

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The NWS operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

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NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov