Rain Gauge System at Bush Airport Left in Limbo Amid Ongoing Construction
Crews working to expand Bush Airport have taken a toll on the facility's infrastructure, with the latest victim being an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) that measures rain, wind, and humidity. The high-tech system, owned by the National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Department of Defense, has been damaged beyond repair.
The ASOS is crucial for tracking weather patterns and recording rainfall data, a function now temporarily suspended due to the damage. NWS officials have assured that the incident hasn't impacted forecasting or issuing severe weather warnings, but the lack of data from the damaged system has forced them to rely on rain gauges from surrounding counties for record-keeping purposes.
The incident highlights the challenges posed by ongoing construction at Bush Airport, which has already disrupted air travel and commute times. The NWS has been tracking Houston's weather since 1881, a span that includes some of the city's most extreme weather events. Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog likened Houston's weather to "a wild animal" that is unpredictable year-round.
The absence of accurate rainfall data has sparked concerns about the reliability of official records, with the current record-keeping system on hold until repairs can be completed. The NWS has yet to provide a timeline for when the damaged ASOS will be fixed, leaving residents and visitors alike wondering when they can expect to see their weather records updated.
Crews working to expand Bush Airport have taken a toll on the facility's infrastructure, with the latest victim being an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) that measures rain, wind, and humidity. The high-tech system, owned by the National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Department of Defense, has been damaged beyond repair.
The ASOS is crucial for tracking weather patterns and recording rainfall data, a function now temporarily suspended due to the damage. NWS officials have assured that the incident hasn't impacted forecasting or issuing severe weather warnings, but the lack of data from the damaged system has forced them to rely on rain gauges from surrounding counties for record-keeping purposes.
The incident highlights the challenges posed by ongoing construction at Bush Airport, which has already disrupted air travel and commute times. The NWS has been tracking Houston's weather since 1881, a span that includes some of the city's most extreme weather events. Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog likened Houston's weather to "a wild animal" that is unpredictable year-round.
The absence of accurate rainfall data has sparked concerns about the reliability of official records, with the current record-keeping system on hold until repairs can be completed. The NWS has yet to provide a timeline for when the damaged ASOS will be fixed, leaving residents and visitors alike wondering when they can expect to see their weather records updated.
And honestly, think about how much more accurate our weather records are gonna be once they start using rain gauges from surrounding counties. I mean, at least those things don't need fancy maintenance or get destroyed by construction crews. And let's be real, the NWS has been keeping track of Houston's weather for like, what, a hundred years? That's not even a wild animal, that's just a really long period of time. 
, I mean, how does construction cause damage to such an important system?! It's like, can't we just finish building something before it disrupts our daily lives and the data we need? Interesting 
, I wonder when they'll be able to fix this thing...
. I mean, come on, an automated system is supposed to track the weather, not some manual thing that's just gonna give you incorrect readings. it's like they're trying to make our lives harder than they need to be 
. and now people are questioning the accuracy of their records? that's a whole other can of worms 
. what's next, gonna go back to using barometers and thermometers too? 
It's not like they're doing us any favors with the expansion, anyway. Just more congestion on the roads and delays for everyone. And now we're stuck without accurate rainfall data? Forget it, our records are history... 
Not good, not good at all...
that are getting wrecked by construction projects 
. it's crazy how much we rely on technology and infrastructure to track the weather, but at the same time it's also like... what's the point of all this accuracy if we can't even trust our own records? 
... yeah that's pretty deep, right? 
The NWS is trying to be all cool about it saying they can still forecast and issue warnings but SERIOUSLY, how reliable are those forecasts when you don't have accurate rainfall data? And what's the deal with the record-keeping system being on hold? It's just so frustrating! Can someone PLEASE tell me when we can expect this to get fixed?! 
. It's like they forgot that Houston's weather is literally a force to be reckoned with (as Travis Herzog so eloquently put it 
). Come on, NWS, can't you guys just get this fixed already?!? We need accurate records for our climate data... this is getting out of hand 
.
yeah no kidding houston's weather is CRAZY!!! 
. But seriously, how long is it gonna take to fix this thing? Can't they just set a deadline already? 
My grandma relies on those weather records for her garden, so this is super frustrating 
. NWS needs to get their act together ASAP! 
.