The Texas Water Development Board on Aug. 18 commemorated the installation of its 100th TexMesonet weather station in far North San Antonio.

Located at the Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park near TPC San Antonio, the newest station is designed to help expand statewide coverage of earth observation data, TWDB representatives said.

According to a news release, TexMesonet is a data collection network that captures real-time meteorological, hydrologic and soil data to help Texans monitor, understand and respond to weather patterns and extreme weather events.

Weather data provided by the stations supports improved weather models and forecasts, contributing to improved public safety, agricultural productivity and scientific research, TWDB officials said.

Specifically, TWDB stations are 10- or 33-foot towers featuring sensors to get data on wind, relative humidity, solar radiation, precipitation, barometric pressure, temperature, and soil moisture and temperature.

Stations operate on a blend of solar and battery power, transmitting data every five minutes to TexMesonet.org, a site containing a map displaying near real-time data, radar images, precipitation accumulations and streamflow.

“Texas is known for extreme weather events. Inevitably, droughts are followed by periods of flooding,” TWDB Executive Administrator Jeff Walker said in a statement. “TexMesonet provides critical data for forecasters, first responders, and the public so that they can make informed decisions and respond appropriately."

TWDB officials said since its inception in 2016, the network has grown to include 100 TWDB stations and more than 3,000 partner stations. The TWDB works with partners, utilities and landowners statewide to identify station locations to help fill gaps in existing weather data coverage.

EAA General Manager Roland Ruiz said his agency values the collection of weather data as a major part of advancing the science of climate and hydrologic modeling for enhanced water planning and aquifer sustainability practices.

“TexMesonet is an excellent example of how organizations such as ours can collaborate with the Texas Water Development Board and others to enhance our water resiliency regionally and statewide though shared scientific data,” Ruiz said in a statement.