HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Tuesday, February 1, Madison County Chairman Dale Strong held a press conference to announce the Baron Critical Weather Institute High-Density Weathernet will be operational soon. The Madison County Commission secured funding for equipment.
“Huntsville and Madison County are leaders in technology throughout the nation. The Baron Critical Weather Institute Weathernet will provide 10-second updates of critical weather information and images of the sky across the county. We are excited to support the Institute's efforts that will benefit so many people including the Madison County EMA and Madison County E-911 agency,” said Dale Strong, Chairman of the Madison County Commission.
STEM programs in 3-D printing at UAH, Cullman Tech, and The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama are assisting the Baron Institute in the production of the sensors and cameras. The Network has had substantial usage by First Responders in the Emergency Management and State Transportation Departments, and the general public during the past two winter events.
The network consists of 9 sensor and camera locations: New Hope, Gurley, New Market, Monte Sano, Cummings Research Park, Green Mountain, Intermodel-Jetplex, Madison, and Rainbow Mountain. There are an additional 5 sensor-only locations throughout the county, a part of a cooperative arrangement with Alabama DOT, Madison County EMA, and Madison County E-911. Huntsville Utilities partnered with the Institute in site selection, installation, and maintenance.
The High-Density Weathernet is part of the Institute’s effort to develop the Baron Institute Alabama Weathernet statewide. Live views of both data and images are available to the public at no cost on www.baroninstitute.com.