WKU News

IOS users can now download and utilize the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU mobile app to obtain reliable weather data.

The Kentucky Mesonet at WKU, the Commonwealth’s official source of climatological observations, collects real-time weather data every five minutes, 24 hours per day, throughout the year. Its network includes 69 research-grade stations in 67 counties across Kentucky, with new stations added each year. The Kentucky Mesonet released the Android version of the mobile application in February with plans to release the iOS version this spring. That version became available on Wednesday (April 25).

Individuals can use their phone’s built-in location services to determine the closest Kentucky Mesonet station or select a default station. Then, the Kentucky Mesonet mobile application provides weather data updates every five minutes, including air temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed and direction. The mobile app toggles between metric and standard units. In, addition, users see forecast information provided by the National Weather Service for the next 48 hours at each location.

“When people are out and about during the day, the mobile app will allow them to access the high-quality weather data that is available on the desktop at www.kymesonet.org,” said Dr. Stuart Foster, Director of the Kentucky Mesonet and State Climatologist for Kentucky. “Whether you are a farmer working in the field or a parent watching your child’s ballgame, you can quickly access local conditions or check nearby stations for weather that that may be approaching.”

The Kentucky Mesonet has already learned that people outside of Kentucky use the mobile app for reliable weather information. Tom Dingham posted recently on the Kentucky Mesonet Facebook page, “I work in Chicago but have family in Shelby County, so I use it to get up-to-date and real-time weather for Shelby County. Thanks for all the work! It certainly provides me peace of mind when I am away from my family.”

“Our goal is to deliver the highest quality weather information to people across Kentucky when they need it. With the introduction of our phone app, the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU becomes accessible to people virtually anytime and anywhere,” Dr. Foster said.

To download the Kentucky Mesonet app on an iOS device, such as an iPhone, visit the App Store. Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store. The Kentucky Mesonet plans to continue to increase functionality with notifications and historical data in the future updates to the app.

About the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU: The Kentucky Mesonet at WKU is the Commonwealth’s official source for weather and climate data. The statewide network includes 69 stations in 67 counties: Adair, Allen, Barren, Bath, Boone, Boyle, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Campbell, Carroll, Casey, Christian, Clark, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Lawrence, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McLean, McCreary, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pike, Rowan, Shelby, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Union and Warren. The Mesonet stations collect real-time data on temperature, precipitation, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and direction and transmit it to the Kentucky Climate Center at WKU every five minutes, 24 hours per day, throughout the year. The data is available online at www.kymesonet.org. State Climatologist Stuart Foster is director of the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU and the Kentucky Climate Center. Dr. Rezaul Mahmood, professor of Geography and Geology, is associate director of the Mesonet and the Kentucky Climate Center. The project was initially funded with a $2.9 million federal grant for the Kentucky Climate Center, part of WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program. The first station was installed at the WKU Farm in May 2007. In recent years, Dr. Foster, Dr. Mahmood and others have been working to build a broad base of support across Kentucky to continue development and maintenance of the network. The 2018-2020 budget approved by the General Assembly included $750,000 a year for the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU.

Contact: Stuart Foster, (270) 745-5983