By Sarah Klein
(Weather station image via Shutterstock)
The Manitoba government is installing 60 new automated weather stations across the province.
The stations will go into effect this fall, and include all-season precipitation gauges to collect snow and rainfall precipitation to improve flood forecasting related to spring thaws and rainfall-driven events. The province says they will transmit hourly data on air temperature, humidity, rainfall and soil temperature.
“Significant weather events can affect thousands of people provincewide so we are investing in new equipment to ensure Manitobans have the most up-to-date weather information possible,” said Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton. “These weather stations will improve our ability to forecast floods and droughts, fight forest fires and ensure Manitoba’s farmers can access the detailed weather information they need.”
Twenty of the stations will be placed in areas at risk for forest fires. The other 40 stations will be located in agricultural areas to enhance Manitoba’s agro-meteorology program.
