Statewide Weather Station Network Shutting Down
NewsCentral Staff
Story Created:
Mar 7, 2011 at 6:23 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Mar 7, 2011 at 6:23 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - The University of Georgia is shutting down a network of 81 weather stations across the state to save money amid budget cuts.
The National Weather Service said that the Automated Environmental Monitoring Network is being cut due to "budget limitations and the loss of key personnel." The network is to be shut down by July 1.
A statement on the agency's website says the system has provided localized weather information to the National Weather Service. It says that the loss of the state-run network "will be a setback to the quality" of the weather services.
The stations record rainfall, air and soil temperature and other key gauges. Some also record evaporation, water temperature and leaf wetness.
According to NewsCentral's Chief Meteorologist Jeff Cox, his team of meteorologists frequently use this data and agrees that shutting this network down is a major loss for the state of Georgia and for the residents of the Peach State.
Information from: The Times, http://www.gainesvilletimes.com
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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