Built for hurricane-force winds
Engineered to withstand winds up to 185 mph, each station tracks temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation and more.
WEATHERSTEM CASE STUDY · EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Building a Safer City: How Weatherstem Enhances New Orleans' Weather Resilience
In July 2022, the City of New Orleans partnered with Weatherstem to deploy a network of localized weather stations across Orleans Parish, giving emergency responders, city officials and the public real-time, hyperlocal weather data.
Weatherstem client
20Weather stations
185 mphWind rating
6Air quality units added
July 2022Partnership began
Overview
Hyperlocal data for a hurricane city
In July 2022, the City of New Orleans partnered with Weatherstem to deploy a network of localized weather stations across Orleans Parish.
The initiative aimed to bolster the city's preparedness for hurricanes and severe weather events by providing real-time, hyperlocal meteorological data to emergency responders, city officials and the public.
The challenges
Three goals for citywide weather awareness
- Improve real-time weather monitoring: establish a network of weather stations to provide accurate, localized weather data.
- Enhance emergency response: equip the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) with tools for informed decision-making during weather events.
- Public accessibility: make weather data readily available to citizens, media outlets and educational institutions.
The solution
20 hurricane-rated stations at critical infrastructure
The initial phase involved the installation of 20 robust weather stations at critical infrastructure points, including:
- Fire and police departments
- Sewerage and Water Board facilities
- The Port of New Orleans
- Community recreation centers
- Educational institutions
Live cameras on the Weatherwise portal
High-resolution camera feeds and data streams are accessible through the user-friendly Weatherwise portal, giving officials and the public real-time situational awareness.
Expanded air quality monitoring
Building on that success, the city added six units retrofitted with air quality sensors, gathering data crucial for public health and safety.
Data for NOHSEP
The network feeds the city's emergency management team with the hyperlocal readings it needs during hurricanes and severe weather.
The results
Better decisions for responders, residents and students
Enhanced emergency preparedness
NOHSEP uses the data for real-time situational awareness, enabling timely alerts and efficient resource deployment during emergencies.
Empowered public engagement
Citizens have direct access to localized weather information, fostering community awareness and preparedness.
Additional educational opportunities
Schools and universities use the data for educational purposes, integrating real-world weather monitoring into curricula.
Mitigating the threat of "super fog"
The air quality sensors have proven instrumental in monitoring and responding to super fog events, a dangerous combination of smoke and fog that can severely reduce visibility and create serious hazards on roadways. The Weather Channel featured the city's proactive approach, highlighting how officials use Weatherstem's data to manage these events.
At a glance
- Client
- City of New Orleans, Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP)
- Location
- Orleans Parish, LA
- Partner since
- July 2022
- Network
- 20 weather stations plus 6 air quality units
- Public portal
- weatherwise.nola.gov
The best way to [mitigate hurricane impacts] is to have solid information from platforms, such as Weatherstem, that we can rely on to keep our people safe in our city.
Not only will [the stations] be used during hurricane season to give our Emergency Operations Center real-time situational awareness, but they will create new educational opportunities for the public.
Give your city a hyperlocal weather network
Talk with our team about weather stations, live cameras, air quality sensors and a public portal for your community.