Los Alamos Reporter

County Launches New Weather Station Monitoring System Called Perry Weather

COUNTY NEWS RELEASE

New Mexico thunderstorms come up quickly in Los Alamos and most days leave just as fast!  With the use of a new weather station monitoring system called Perry Weather, everyone can rest a bit easier knowing there is a system in place reading real-time weather events. 

In partnership with Perry Weather, Los Alamos County has taken a significant step beyond traditional safety measures, which often rely on handheld and mobile devices.

The newly installed permanent weather stations provide comprehensive coverage and offer automated updates every 15 minutes. This advanced system equips the County with real-time data to make informed decisions about outdoor activities. It also enables the County to react quickly to changing weather conditions, reducing the risk of lightning strikes and ensuring a safer environment for all outdoor activities. 

The Perry Weather system is a series of five units spread across the County.

This station monitors real-time lightning strikes, live and forecasted heat stress measurements (aka Wet Bulb Globe Temperature), live and future radar, wind speed, temperature, humidity, wind chill, and rainfall totals. The system essentially provides County staff and other assigned users with an accurate weather forecast and then sends alerts straight to their phones before extreme weather arrives.

The system also triggers an outdoor warning system, complete with a horn alert and siren, to notify anyone in the vicinity of impending weather, thus ensuring a coordinated, swift response to keep everyone safe.

Important Features To Know About:

  • If you attend an outdoor event at Ashley Pond Park, North Mesa Sports Complex, Golf Course, Pinon Splash Pad, and Overlook Park and hear the horn sound, know that severe weather is approaching, and you should be ready to move to safety. 
  • If you hear a horn and sirens simultaneously, then you need to move and seek shelter immediately.
  • Perry Weather will notify county staff when severe weather (such as lightning strikes) reaches a safe distance away and it’s okay to resume activities. Lightning detection countdown timers are based on the County’s policy. This system takes the guesswork out of lightning monitoring, so you know when it’s safe to resume activities.
  • Staff receive notifications on high winds and other weather factors, which allow the County to prepare for weather events. 
  • County staff receive custom alerts through the APP and SMS, so everyone is notified in real-time of severe weather events. 

The Perry Weather Stations provide an additional layer of safety by issuing automated alerts for conditions such as lightning strikes, ensuring real-time responses, and reducing the need for manual monitoring.

More than 1,000 organizations nationwide—including professional sports teams in the NFL, MLB, and PGA—use this technology, which supports the County’s ongoing efforts to enhance community safety.

Check out a short video on https://www.youtube.com/embed/oa2RM212z0s?si=jI1tjVmuIKukxCs9 that explains what to listen for during weather events and how to respond. Understanding the sounds of the Perry Weather alert system can help you act quickly and stay safe during sudden weather changes.

“Teaming up with Perry Weather is a major step for our community,” Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker said. “Lightning is a major concern during events in the County, and the implementation of this weather alert system will keep our community safe.”