Introduction to Official Weather Records
If rain or snow falls in North Texas or the area hits triple-digit heat, it’s not official unless it was observed at DFW International Airport. On the southeast side of the airport, off of runway 17C, the National Weather Service has its official climate site, where the weather service is able to observe temperatures, dew points, wind speeds and direction, and measure precipitation.
History of Weather Records in North Texas
A Dallas Morning News reader wanted to know in 2019: Why are official weather records compiled at DFW Airport? And this year, reader Abel Tomatis asked: Why is DFW International Airport the official climate measurement spot for the region, since rain totals can vary so much across the region? For example, 1.5 inches of rain there, while Dallas gets 4.5-5 inches for the same time period. So they asked Curious Texas to find out more.
Curious Texas Project
Curious Texas is an ongoing project from The Dallas Morning News that invites you to join in our reporting process. The idea is simple: You have questions, and our journalists are trained to track down answers. You ask, we investigate. Follow the investigations and see what our journalists uncover in North Texas and across the state. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Evolution of the Official Climate Site
The weather service’s official climate site wasn’t always at DFW Airport. When the Fort Worth Weather Bureau opened in September 1898, weather records were taken at the bureau’s office in downtown Fort Worth. The Weather Bureau, which is known today as the National Weather Service, later opened another office in downtown Dallas in October 1913, creating two official sites in North Texas for weather records. In 1931, the Dallas office began recording upper air observations at Dallas Love Field. In 1940, the Fort Worth office began taking records at then-named Meacham Field Airport, according to National Weather Service history. Offices and observation sites bounced around a bit for a few years, but when DFW Airport opened in 1974, the National Weather Service combined its North Texas operations into one site at the airport.
Reasons for Choosing DFW Airport
Today there is no longer a Dallas office, and the National Weather Service’s North Texas branch operates out of North Fort Worth — but observations are still taken at DFW. Why? Jason Godwin, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said one of the main reasons is because the airport is centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, and “it made it an ideal location” to observe official weather.
Maintaining Quality Control
The weather service is able to maintain quality control at DFW Airport, also making the site an ideal location, Godwin said. The climate site is not accessible to public, so no one can alter any measured rainfall or adjust the instruments. Unless someone from the National Weather Service is checking in at the site, no one else has access or permission to visit the rain gauge and weather tools. The devices at the site also help maintain quality control, Godwin said. The rain gauge, for example, isn’t just a beaker waiting for rain to fall inside. It’s a large instrument with metal flaps in the shape of triangles that help prevent winds or turbulence from planes from blowing rain out of the gauge, according to Godwin.
Remote Monitoring and Official Readings
Meteorologists from the weather office in Fort Worth can remotely check in to the climate site at the airport at any moment during the day to see how hot or cold it is outside, or how much rain has fallen, Godwin said. The weather service also gets official measurements all over North Texas from Waco to Wills Point, but the official readings for Dallas-Fort Worth come from the airport. “If we say we hit 100-degrees, we mean it happened at DFW,” Godwin said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the National Weather Service’s official climate site at DFW Airport is the central location for observing and recording official weather data for the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The site’s central location, quality control measures, and remote monitoring capabilities make it an ideal location for collecting accurate and reliable weather data.
FAQs
Q: Why is DFW Airport the official climate measurement spot for the region?
A: DFW Airport is the official climate measurement spot for the region because of its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth, which makes it an ideal location for observing official weather.
Q: How does the National Weather Service maintain quality control at the climate site?
A: The National Weather Service maintains quality control at the climate site by limiting public access, using specialized instruments such as the rain gauge with metal flaps, and allowing meteorologists to remotely monitor the site.
Q: Can the weather service get official measurements from other locations in North Texas?
A: Yes, the weather service gets official measurements all over North Texas from Waco to Wills Point, but the official readings for Dallas-Fort Worth come from the airport.
Q: Why is it important to have an official climate site?
A: Having an official climate site is important because it provides a centralized location for collecting accurate and reliable weather data, which is used to inform the public and make important decisions.
Q: How often are weather observations taken at the climate site?
A: Weather observations are taken continuously at the climate site, with meteorologists able to remotely check in to the site at any moment during the day to see how hot or cold it is outside, or how much rain has fallen.
