COLUMBIA, S.C. — You hear the temperature and weather conditions mentioned each time we do the forecast on television but, have you ever wondered where we get your weather from?
When we mention the conditions for a place like Columbia what we are really talking about is Automated System Observing System (ASOS) located at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
“This is our Automated System Observing System so this is the actual measurement for the Columbia area, that take(s) observations constantly, essentially for us and let us know what is going on in real time.”
Warning Coordination Meteorologist John Quagliariello with the National Weather Service in Columbia explains that this station plays a pivotal role in determining the current conditions.
The ASOS contains sensors that record rainfall, temperature, dewpoint, precipitation type, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, freezing rain accumulation, and visibility.
These conditions are recorded 24/7 and contribute to the climatological records for the city of a Columbia. If the city breaks a record it is at this weather station at the airport.
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Outside of the use for weather there is an important reason why this weather station is located right off of a taxiway. Along with giving a unbiased view of the weather (no shade, blacktop, or trees to interfere), it serves as an important tool for the airport as well.
“These systems are located at airports because they really vital for air operations. Pilots coming into land really need information on visibility, wind speed, direction, ceiling height. So, this provides vital information on the airport but also helps us in the weather community knowing what is going on in real-time at locations all across the country.”
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Along with Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Orangeburg and Columbia-Owens also contain an ASOS station. As for other locations well, smaller weather stations or even public volunteers provide us with weather observations from across the Midlands.