Pitsford Hall weather
station is a fully equipped
meteorological station maintained by the Department of Geography at Northamptonshire Grammar
School in Pitsford, 4 miles north of
Northampton (United Kingdom). The station is independent of the UK Met Office,
but meets the same exacting requirements for operation and instrumentation. The
site has maintained an unbroken daily weather record since 1998. In its
relatively short history, Pitsford Hall has risen to become one of the leading
sources of reliable weather data and forecast information for Northamptonshire
and adjoining counties. The station is a corporate member of the Royal
Meteorological Society and a member of the Climatological Observers Link.
The weather station operates round the clock, 365 days of the year. The station comprises a standard manned climatological site using classical instruments which maintains the official record of the site and an automatic weather station which provides accessible real-time weather data via this web site, an answerphone and sms text messaging. In addition to recording the weather, the station produces a forecast for Northamptonshire which is released daily. The station also supports an automatic weather station at Brixworth and provides the county with early warnings of thunderstorms using a state of the art Boltek lightning detection system.
The site is set in 25 acres of parkland attached to the school and comprises an office in Pitsford Hall with adjacent rooftop enclosure fully equipped with both traditional and automated instruments all of which conform to the highest specifications for accurate climatological monitoring. The site has a grade A level of exposure and is able to provide the most representative temperature and rainfall data for its location. The site is secure and protected by 24-hour CCTV. A weather web cam provides a view of the skies across Northamptonshire. Images are uploaded every 15 minutes.
The station is regularly called upon to supply weather data and forecasts for a wide range clients including the media, farmers, local companies, institutes involved in climate research and schools as well as a wide range of other weather agencies including the BBC (national and local) and the Meteorological Office. We are normally closed to members of the public. Individuals should make a request for any potential visit by telephoning the main school office.
Officers & Patrons of the Weather Station
Patrons: Alex Deakin &
Michael Fish MBE
Station
Manager: M J Lewis, BSc(Hons), FRGS, FRMetS.
Chief Observer: S Briggs
Assistant Observers: R
Armitage, D Goold, M Gundel, W Howell, C Lockhart & A
Ward.
Contact Information
Pitsford
Hall weather station
Pitsford
Northampton NN6 9AX
Tel. 01604 880306
Ext. 314 Fax. 01604 882212 Email. office@northantsweather.org.uk
Lat/Long 52 18' 09'' N 0 53' 27'' W. COL Station No. 91012
visits have been made to this site since 28 March 2000.
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