A reminder of the recent harsh winter and heavy snow from the view along the dam wall at Pitsford Reservoir looking towards Pitsford Hall Weather Station in the distance.

Climate / Weather Reporting

A key part of trout fishing is directly related to the weather, I have found the free daily email reports and forecasts that Pitsford Hall Weather Station absolutely invaluable.

Though it is not immediately obvious browsing through their website, the weather station is having a funding crisis that has a potentially huge negative outcome. Their aged Stevenson Screens need replacing and the fund raising to enable the purchase of replacements is not going to plan as per this email from Mike Lewis the Weather Stations Manager reveals:

Fund to Replace the Stevenson Screens - Update 2

Letter from the Station’s Manager

The fundraising campaign that was launched in January to replace the rotting Stevenson screens at the weather station has so far failed to raise the necessary amount of money to begin installation of the new equipment. To date we have only secured just short of £700. In contrast to the campaign launched a few years ago to replace the automatic weather station, funds have been very slow in coming in. It was hoped that asking for a small donation of £5 from each of the station’s 1000 strong list of subscribers to its free weather report would see us replacing the screens in a relatively short space of time. Unfortunately, to date less than 10% have pledged to contribute. Admittedly, with many of us having to weather the current economic climate more than others and faced with more needy causes such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, our own needs have been viewed as a low priority.

However, the poor state of repair of the screens is a serious issue for us. Without the screens, the station will be unable to maintain its long term climatological record of temperature or provide accurate temperature data in its Daily Weather Report. The automatic weather station may be able to carry on recording air temperature, updating the web site with real-time data. However, the sensors do not provide a reading of temperature accurate to 0.1C for the climatological record. This record can only be reliably maintained with standard pattern thermometers exposed in a louvred Stevenson screen of the type conforming to the Met Office or World Meteorological Organisation. If the screens are not replaced, at best the climatological station would be able to continue functioning through the coming summer, but the arrival of a wet and windy autumn will weaken the screens to the point that they will have to be dismantled for health and safety reasons, given that they are bolted to the main school roof.

It is our intention to replace the smaller of the screens with a new-type UPVC construction to give it added longevity. However, the large pattern screen which houses the autographic equipment (thermograph and hygrograph) and Piché evaporimeter in addition to the thermometers is currently only available in wood and would have to be a like for like replacement. However, with proper care it is expected this screen could last up to 15 years.

The fact that the weather station is maintained by a fee-paying school is no guarantee of its long-term survival. The station only receives financial support for its day-to-day running costs. It is only right that the school’s income should be wholly targeted directly towards the education of its pupils. The station has grown into the reputable organisation it is today with the support of the local community which it serves. It would be a shame that after 12 years of continuous service and with a commitment from both staff and students to maintain this for many years to come, we would be forced to close because we couldn’t complete a number of rather necessary essential repairs.

On behalf of the students who currently serve the weather station and the numerous generations of past volunteer observers, might I urge anyone who has yet to contribute even a small amount to do so. Pitsford Hall weather station exists to provide the people of Northamptonshire with reliable weather data free at the point of use and the circulation of free daily weather reports with their detailed focus on Northamptonshire written in plain English is something which we are very proud. The simple donation of £5 by all our subscribers would guarantee our long term survival.

Regards

Mike Lewis Manager, Pitsford Hall Weather Station

How to Donate

Cheque made payable to ‘Northamptonshire Grammar School’ posted to Screen Replacement Fund, Pitsford Hall weather station, Pitsford Hall, Pitsford, Northampton NN6 9AX. Alternatively, donate via PayPal using the account office [at] northantsweather [dot] org [dot] uk. For details on how to donate via electronic banking, individuals should ring the Finance Office on 01604 880306.

The Northampton Chronicle and Echo which is the local newspaper picked up this Weather site needs money for vital repair story back on the 27th January 2010

I strongly urge you to support Pitsford Hall Weather Station and the great work they do by sending them a donation regardless of size so they can purchase the much needed replacement Stevenson Screens, thank you.

Update 20th April 2010

SCREEN REPLACEMENT FUND - UPDATE

We are now well on our way to replace the aging and rotten Stevenson screens at the weather station. We are just £550 short of our target of £2200 to complete the project. This means that we can replace the large pattern Stevenson screen which houses the thermometers and autographic instruments that are used to maintain the station’s climatological record of temperature. However, we are still obviously short of the funds necessary to replace the smaller screen which contains duplicate instruments and which acts as an important quality control against observations made by the student volunteers as well as a source of weather data for the daily weather report without recourse to disturbing the instruments in the large screen.

The material used to construct Stevenson screens has traditionally been wood, although more durable uPVC screens are now coming on to the market and it is one of these which we wish to purchase to replace the smaller screen.

We do have a very large mailing list of subscribers to our Daily and Monthly Weather Reports, so much so that we are still confident of raising the final sum from this source. To date, a large sum of money has been raised from the donations of a relatively small percentage of the distribution list. Indeed, we are particularly grateful to a few individuals who have contributed most generously with single donations of between £50 and £500.

Obviously, it may be that several of you have simply overlooked making the donation and were originally intended to make a contribution. If you are in this position, might I strongly urge you to make that donation now. Cheques can be made payable to ‘Northamptonshire Grammar School’ and sent to Screen Replacement Fund, Pitsford Hall weather station, Pitsford Hall, Northampton NN6 9AX. Alternatively, you can donate online via our Paypal account (office [at] northantsweather [dot] org [dot] uk) or by ebanking (please email our finance office for details ekiddle [at] ngs-school [dot] com.)

Hopefully, I will have good news to report next month with a goal of having both screens in place before the end of term.

Kind regards

Mike Lewis

Manager, Pitsford Hall weather station