Weather station aids emergency preparedness at WSSU
New technology is providing real-time weather data and early warnings for severe weather at the Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) campus.
A new high-tech WSSU-branded weather monitoring unit, through WeatherSTEM, was installed on the roof of the three-story Thompson Student Services Center on March 28. The station links to the web, and provides text alerts for changing weather conditions, forecasts as well as a live camera feed.
WeatherSTEM gathers at least 15 elements from the local atmosphere – including temperature, humidity and wind speed – and pushes that information to an online database where it can be accessed almost immediately by faculty, staff, students and the public.
The project is spearheaded by WSSU Emergency Management Division in collaboration with the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education.
“WeatherSTEM provides us with the enhanced capability to monitor the current and forecast conditions,” said Darrell Jeter, WSSU’s emergency management director. “By staying informed, we can make accurate decisions to keep WSSU students, faculty and staff safe.”
Dr. Corey D.B. Walker, dean of the College, said faculty also are excited about incorporating WeatherSTEM into teaching and learning.
“For our teacher education programs, WeatherSTEM provides faculty with another critical resource to develop novel approaches to teaching science, math, and more in preparing the next generation of educators and school leaders,” Walker said.
Jeter said WeatherSTEM also will be utilized by WSSU Athletics for monitoring weather conditions at practices and during games. WSSU is the first CIAA institution to install WeatherSTEM.
Live data is available online at: forsyth.weatherstem.com/wssu.
Data also can be assessed:
- On Twitter #WSSUWxSTEM
- Through the free WeatherSTEM app (Apple and Android)
- Via text message or phone at 336-750-6434
- By email (send request to: wssu@forsyth.weatherstem.com)
This is the third WeatherSTEM in Forsyth County.
