A Sept. 23 ribbon cutting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will celebrate the completion of 35 new, state-of-the-art Nebraska Mesonet weather stations funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Supporters of the mesonet will be recognized, and attendees will have the opportunity to see a station up close.

The free public event, 3 to 4 p.m., will be at the East Campus mesonet station — the network’s flagship site, which tests improvements to the network before deployment and is used for educational purposes.

Nebraska’s 104 mesonet stations provide data vital to agriculture, natural resources management, emergency management and fire containment. The stations provide air temperature, rainfall, humidity and other common variables, as well as soil moisture, heat and cold stress, crop water use and wildfire risk data.

During the Sept. 23 event, attendees can view the East Campus mesonet station and learn how the Nebraska Mesonet operates. Mesonet staff will be on hand to answer questions.

“The addition of 35 modern weather and soil observation stations funded by the Army Corps of Engineers filled a significant gap in the Nebraska Mesonet, especially in the Sandhills,” said Ruben Behnke, mesonet director.

That progress “has fueled a renewed interest in modernizing and growing the Nebraska Mesonet into a premier network, as the value of environmental observation data is rapidly increasing in all fields,” he said. “Everyone in the state depends on this data in some form, even if they don’t directly interact with or use the raw observations.”

The mesonet is an invaluable resource for Nebraska’s producers, said Tiffany Heng-Moss, Harlan Vice Chancellor for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and vice president for the University of Nebraska system.

“The data this network provides is used in the development of precision ag tools, weather monitoring services, disaster relief programs, preparedness in the event of natural disasters, and a host of other programs,” she said. “We are proud that the Nebraska Mesonet is part of IANR, and we’re incredibly grateful to Ruben Behnke for his dedication to this critical tool, as well as to the partners who have contributed to its success.”

Attendees for the ribbon cutting should enter the university’s East Campus at the second entrance west of 48th and Holdrege streets. Turn right on the East Campus Loop, then right on Fair Street just north of the College of Law complex. Curve right onto a gravel road and find parking near the UNL Pollinator Garden.

Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP here.

The gathering will include remarks by stakeholders, including Lt. Col. Natalie Mallue, deputy commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, and representatives from the National Weather Service, Nebraska Forest Service and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Refreshments will be provided.

“This event gives us a chance to acknowledge and thank all our supporters as we make progress toward providing mesonet coverage within 12 miles of every Nebraskan,” Behnke said.

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Nebraska Mesonet