Budget Woes Lead to Weather Station Closures

Mesonet location map
Due to budgetary constraints, seven weather stations have been closed in 2022, with another nine slated for closure in the coming months. The remaining stations will continue to serve stakeholders in the agricultural industry, observing temperatures, humidity, precipitation, wind and soil conditions, and more.

Budget Woes Lead to Weather Station Closures

Leading into the sixth year of appropriation shortfalls, Nebraska Mesonet weather stations that are not contracted specifically by clients are slotted for closure to cut costs and reduce labor overhead. The following stations have already been closed in 2022:

  • Ainsworth 2NE (opened June 4, 1984)
  • Gordon 4SE (opened Oct. 18, 1984)
  • Ragan 5W (opened May 29, 1988)
  • Dunning 6NW (opened Aug. 13, 1989)
  • Mullen 30N (opened July 26, 2004)
  • Sparks 5NE (opened July 27, 2004)
  • Harrison 4NW (opened April 21, 2016)

Additional stations to be closed in the next 12 months due to non-funding include:

  • Lincoln 1500 N 45th (opened Aug. 27, 1986)
  • Guide Rock 3E (opened Oct. 15, 1990)
  • Eagle 3NW (opened Aug. 15, 2015)
  • Hayes Center 3N (opened Oct. 31, 2016)
  • Arthur 8S (opened March 31, 2017)
  • Indianola 8SW (opened July 16, 2019)
  • Dickens 1NE (opened July 17, 2019)
  • Bushnell 12SE (opened July 14, 2021)
  • Enders 10SW (opened Aug. 3, 2021)

If you would like to pay to keep any of these stations in place, please contact Dr. Martha Shulski at 402-472-6711.

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