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About Kentucky Mesonet
Background on the Kentucky Mesonet's mission.
THE NETWORK - WHAT IS IT?
Purpose: A sophisticated end-to-end system of 84+ weather stations, the Kentucky Mesonet gathers and distributes detailed information about weather, water, and climate across the state in real-time.
WHY DO WE NEED IT?
Challenge: Kentucky is one of the most vulnerable areas in the United States to extreme weather with floods, high winds, tornadoes, lightning, hail, ice, sleet and heavy snow a significant threat.
This vulnerability threatens the lives and properties of all Kentuckians. As such, resiliency to extreme weather demands a dense network of weather observations across the State to generate localized real-time data for heightened situational awareness. These data equip first responders with hyperlocal, highly accurate weather information to mitigate hazardous events. Derived products empower decision-makers with the tools and solutions needed to minimize costly weather hazards. These improved weather data, analyses and predictions save lives and benefit the well-being of all Kentucky residents.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Observations: Each Kentucky Mesonet station collects a variety of atmospheric, water, and soil information every 5 minutes.
Air Temperature (1m, 2m, 9m)
Precipitation
Relative Humidity
Solar Radiation
Atmospheric Pressure
Wind Speed & Direction
Soil Temperature (2, 4, 8, 20, 40")
Soil Moisture (2, 4, 8, 20, 40")
Camera photos
Observations are collected, quality-controlled, and archived in real-time at a central processing hub at Western Kentucky University (WKU). Data are processed within seconds of collection and disseminated to users nationwide via its streaming services (web, app, ftp). Data are sampled every 3 seconds and averaged every five minutes, generating over 300 million observations annually. Over 2 billion observations are now archived and available for research, development, and education. A highly-trained team of meteorologists service the Mesonet stations and software, ensuring the network’s 1,200+ sensors are accurate, reliable, and properly calibrated according to strict World Meteorological Organization guidelines.
HOW DOES IT HELP?
Benefits: High quality hydrometeorological data at high spatial and temporal resolutions provide numerous tangible benefits for public safety and the economy.
Emergency Management
Kentucky Mesonet data are provided to the National Weather Service (NWS) and emergency managers in real-time. Mesonet data were crucial to warning issuance during the 2021 tornado outbreak, the 2022 Eastern KY floods, and 2025 February and April floods.
Agriculture
The KY Division of Water utilizes Mesonet data in its weekly drought analysis. Farmers schedule farm activities, based in part, on local Mesonet data/products.
Health
The KY Energy and Environment Cabinet Air Quality team utilizes Mesonet data for aiding the tracking and monitoring of air pollutants. The KY Division of Public Health leverages Kentucky Mesonet data for monitoring temperature extremes.
Research
Kentucky Mesonet data supports STEM research. The State is awarded millions of dollars annually in new externally-funded federal grants because of the data made possible by the Mesonet; Mesonet has supported grants from NASA, NIH, NSF, NOAA, and more.
Environmental Monitoring
In 2006, the Kentucky Legislature declared the Kentucky Mesonet as the official environmental monitoring network for the state. Since that time, the Mesonet has observed two state records: (1) Highest wind speed (120.1 mph), December 10, 2021 tornado; and (2) Highest 24-hr rainfall total (11.28 inches of rainfall, July 18-19, 2023).