Pages

26 June, 2011

Dang Technology

My weather station is infected with gremlins. For a while now, I've been trying to keep it on the straight and narrow - that is, providing good, reliable information.

Unfortunately, it seems to have other ideas. For example, the two items in particular that are being extremely obstinate are monthly total for rainfall and yesterday's high winds.

Rainfall for the month is listed as 198.35-inches. I know we get some rain here and, it is the rainy season... But, come on, sixteen and a half feet of rain? I don't think so.

And the high winds, yesterday's at 70.9 KTS (knots) or 81.59 MPH? or the wind of a couple of days ago 97 KTS or 111.63 MPH? I really don't think so.

So, I hope you'll bear with me. I am trying to track down the problem and correct it. I've been going through the data files the program creates, but apparently I have yet to fix the right file. I don't have a clue why these errors are appearing. They're not consistent - except in the tally.

For now, if a reading seems a bit weird, look at the readings on either side of it and if it seems like a spike, that might be what it is. Especially, if we've gotten nothing in the way of warnings, etc., from the National Hurricane Center, or Belize Weather Service.

I'll keep whacking away at the problem. Sooner or later I'll find the solution and get it fixed.

Keep your weather eye peeled.

1 comment:

Dave Rider said...

Hi Everyone,

I just upgraded to v. 1.9.1 of Cumulus software for the WX station. It seems to have (for now) solved the anomalies.

Right now, we're in the midst of a humdinger of a thunder and lightning show. Dianna is hiding under a blanket, trying to read, but she keeps squinching her eyes closed. One of my doggies (Cindy) is laying at my feet just quivering, she's so scared.

We've gotten 1.74" of rain in the past hour and a half. Not bad. My parking area is under about 4" of that stuff.

Stay safe. Take care of your pets and your significant other.

Cheers,
Dave