About TexMesonet


Overview

Together with partners across the state, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has developed TexMesonet — a statewide earth observation data collection network.

TexMesonet establishes a unifying architecture for networks across Texas, aggregating data into central location that includes stations maintained by the National Weather Service (NWS) and several other regional and local entities. And, TWDB continues to strategically add its own managed stations to improve statewide coverage.

TexMesonet utilizes MesoWest and SynopticLabs Mesonet API to access data from these stations as well as independent meteorological stations, including several buoy sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Many citizen-cooperator sites or special-purpose networks measure only one or two parameters. Collectively, these several hundred locations contribute meaningfully to the complete meteorological data presented by and available on TexMesonet.


Data Information


What data is displayed and graphed?

The TexMesonet Map Viewer shows the current conditions for all mesonet stations. Detailed information can be displayed for each station by either hovering over or clicking on the station. Clicking opens a pop-up where you can choose to view:

  • Current – This is the most recent data read at varying intervals (5 or 15 min. for TWDB stations). Date and time of the read is shown at the bottom, and data collected varies by station.
  • Forecast – The current forecast from the NWS for the station site.
  • Graphs – Shows data trends over the previous 1, 2, 3 days, or 1 to 2 weeks. Graphs will only display if data is available.


Data Fields Collected
Dew Point Average dew point in degrees Fahrenheit
Heat Index Shown if temperature is > 80°F
Humidity Relative Humidity as a percent of 100
Precipitation Precipitation in inches from rain gage
Sea Level Pressure Barometric pressure in millibars (mb)
Solar Radiation Average incident solar radiation in watts per square meter
Soil Moisture Percentage volume of water to volume of soil (i.e. volumetric soil moisture) measured at 5cm, 10cm, 20cm, and 50cm depths
Soil Temperature Soil Temperature in Fahrenheit measured at 5 cm, 10cm, 20 cm, and 50 cm depths
Temperature Air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit at 2m and 9m heights
Water Level Water level in feet below ground. (For well sites)
Water Temperature Water temperature of water below ground. (For well sites)
Wind Chill Shown if temperature is < 50°F
Wind Direction Wind direction in compass degrees at 2m and 10m heights
Wind Gust Wind gust speed in miles per hour at 2m and 10 m heights
Wind Speed Wind speed in miles per hour measured at 2m and 10m heights

Data Sources
Mesonet Description Total Stations Total Stations (Texas)
COA City of Austin Flood Control 78 78
CRN Climate Reference Network 54 8
EAA Edwards Aquifer Authority 79 79
GBRA Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority 67 67
GPTX City of Grand Prairie 28 28
HADS Hydrometeorological Automated Data System 1567 496
HCFCD Harris County Flood Control District 201 201
JCDD6 Jefferson County Drainage District No. 6 76 76
LCRA Lower Colorado River Authority 245 245
MARITIME Moored Buoys and CMAN 14 7
MEXICO Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (Mexico) 9 0
NOS-NWLON National Ocean Service Water Level Observation Network 27 17
NOS-PORTS National Ocean Service Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System 4 3
NWS/FAA National Weather Service/Federal Aviation Administration 503 195
RAWS Interagency Remote Automatic Weather Stations 381 100
SJRA San Jacinto River Authority 13 13
TWDB Texas Water Development Board 100 100
TXSON Texas Soil Observation Network 33 33
WTEXAS West Texas Mesonet 157 151



How is data collected and distributed?

  • Data is collected using Campbell Scientific Data Loggers (CR300 and CR1000). The data is currently logged at 5- or 15-minute intervals
  • LoggerNet retrieves the data from each of the stations every 5 minutes. Shortly afterwards the data is loaded into the database.
  • Our web services drive the near real time data distribution and display on https://www.texmesonet.org. See our Data Services page for more information.



What is the source for our weather radar?

TexMesonet displays the National Weather Service (NWS) Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) network of weather via services from Iowa State University of Science and Technology. For more information visit the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM).



What are some uses of the data?

The data is broadly applicable. For example:

  • Support statewide flood monitoring and flood forecasting
  • Monitoring and response to drought and wildfires
  • May help with more efficient irrigation in both rural and urban contexts

New parameters and functional enhancements are added on an ongoing basis with the goal to help all Texans more easily monitor, interpret, and utilize the network’s data.



Affiliation List

Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Brazos River Authority
Bureau of Economic Geology
Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District
Coke County Underground Water Conservation District
Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District
Goliad County Groundwater Conservation District
Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District
Harris County Flood Control District
Lower Colorado River Authority
PLance, helping with Plants!
Sutton County Underground Water Conservation District
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University - Office of the State Climatologist
Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Texas Tech University - National Wind Institute
United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service