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6425 LAKEOVER RD STE A

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#1. 4 each Fuel Stick Mount to Trileg Tower

#2. 4 each Hardware Kit, Mount Rain Gauge to

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#4. 4 each RAWS lightning kit, 20ft mast, incl WS arm mount

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FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

A publication of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations

PMS 426-3 MARCH 2019

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local partners. NWCG operations standards are interagency by design; they are developed with the intent of universal adoption by the member agencies. However, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems.

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations

March 2019

PMS 426-3

The NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations provides common standards for weather stations used by the wildland fire agencies to provide weather data observations. Weather data observations are used for a wide variety of applications including calculation of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) indices, fire behavior, burned area fire rehabilitation, planned ignitions, and other land management operations.

This document supplements and supersedes the Weather Station Handbook – An Interagency Guide for Wildland Managers, PMS 426-2, with regard to NFDRS standards. The Weather Station Handbook was discontinued by NWCG; however, it may still be in use by units maintaining manual weather stations.

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations i of ii

Table of Contents

Introduction Quality Assurance Equipment Selection

NFDRS Weather Station Standards and Guidelines Introduction Station Classifications WIMS Identification Numbers Telemetry Policy Operational Period Sensor and Data Requirements

NFDRS Station Minimum Sensor Complement Rain Gauge Wind Speed Wind Direction Air Temperature Relative Humidity Battery Voltage Solar Radiation Universal Time Coordinated (UTC)

Site Selection/Relocation The RAWS Network Analysis Process for Installing a New or Moving an Existing Station Site Selection Guidelines Site Relocation Guidelines

Tower Specifications General Tower Specifications

Installation System Alignment and Leveling

Structural Integrity Lifecycle Management

Station Maintenance Policy Annual Maintenance Unscheduled Maintenance / Emergency Repair Annual Maintenance and Sensor Replacement Standards Field Service Depot Sensor Calibration Standards Documentation

Fire RAWS Standards and Guidelines Introduction Sensor and Data Requirements Standards for Required Sensors and Data

Wind Speed Wind Direction Air Temperature Relative Humidity

Standards for Optional Sensors and Data Rain Gauge – Optional Battery Voltage – Optional Solar Radiation – Optional

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations ii of ii

Fuel Temperature – Optional Fuel Moisture – Optional Barometric Pressure – Optional Radio Alert Function (optional)

Site Selection Fire RAWS Maintenance Policy

Annual Maintenance Annual Maintenance and Sensor Replacement Standards

Depot Sensor Calibration Standards Documentation

NFDRS Manual Weather Station Standards and Guidelines Introduction Station Classifications Operational Period Sensor and Data Requirements

NFDRS Manual Fire Weather Station Minimum Instrument Complement Rain Gauge Wind Speed Wind Direction Air Temperature Relative Humidity

Site Selection Process for Installing a New and/or Moving an Existing Station:

Installation Station Maintenance Policy

Annual Maintenance Unscheduled Maintenance and Emergency Repair Annual Maintenance and Sensor Replacement Standards Maintenance Checklist Field Service

Observer Requirements Handheld Fire Weather Meter Standards and Guidelines

Introduction Sensor Performance Requirements Standards for Required Sensors

Wind Speed Wind Direction Air Temperature Barometric Pressure – Optional

General Considerations Handheld Fire Weather Meter Maintenance and Recalibration Standards

Annual Maintenance Calibration and Maintenance Considerations

Bibliography

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 1 of 46

Introduction Quality Assurance The station owner, at the field level, is responsible for ensuring weather data quality by:

• Ensuring that maintenance is performed per standards, and that this maintenance and all other significant station activity is documented in the weather section of the Wildland Fire Management Information (WFMI) system. The WFMI Weather module provides access to the weather data that is transmitted from the more than 2500 Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) located throughout the U.S.

• Visually confirm outputs from the station to check that the information is reflective of actual conditions, and notify appropriate organizations if data quality is suspect.

• Ensuring that the station is physically secure and that the site is maintained as needed.

Two methods of data quality control can be implemented. The first method is an automatic oversight system, such as a Station Event Report (SER), to continually monitor data for errors relating to out of range observations and performance problems from non-functional sensors. SER quality control is available to the field user through coordination with the WFMI system administrator if the station transmits data via Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). The second method is periodic review and verification by an agency, regional, or local fire weather user. Should errors or problems be detected, the station owner/user is responsible for initiating action to correct.

Ultimately, the station owner is responsible for ensuring the station is delivering acceptable weather data.

Equipment Selection When selecting which type of automatic weather station equipment to purchase, consider more than just the lowest bid. Consider more detailed life-cycle costs of equipment, data transmission, maintenance, data storage and retrieval, and the value of corporate (shared) data. Talk to several vendors, other users, and consult your agency weather station coordinator. The weather station owner is responsible for ensuring that equipment will meet the minimum interagency fire weather station standards.

Additional fire management needs, as well as those of other multiple-use interests, should be factored when selecting equipment. Expandability, serviceability (including service contract and training availability), transportability, and compatibility with current and future national systems must be considered.

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 2 of 46

NFDRS Weather Station Standards and Guidelines Introduction The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is a decision support system used by wildland fire management agencies to assess current fire danger at local and national levels. It consists of a variety of indices that portray current potential fire danger conditions. Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) used for NFDRS calculations must have annual maintenance.

The weather station network supporting NFDRS has grown considerably in the last 40 years. The original RAWS network was conceived to support the coarse-scale application of fire danger rating.

Today, RAWS data is routinely used for multiple purposes, including: supporting decisions impacting firefighter safety, determining whether to initiate a fuels treatment prescription, measuring air quality, assigning crew readiness, and conducting strategic seasonal and multi-year resource allocations.

Demand for these data happens every day. The future use of RAWS data to support gridded, digital data products is already here and growing quickly. The current and future purpose of the RAWS network is to support point and gridded applications of fire weather for fire program analysis, fire danger rating, fire behavior prediction, fire weather forecasting, and smoke management. The data from RAWS supports interagency fire danger predictions and quantifies risk elements that are critical for daily decisions regarding firefighter resource placement, staffing levels, appropriate suppression response, and strategic decisions at local, regional, and national levels.

The most important value among those provided by these data is consideration for firefighter and public safety.

Stations compliant with the NFDRS standards will provide remotely sensed weather data – temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation on an hourly basis via the GOES satellite.

Note: Not all of these elements apply to manual stations.

Station Classifications This section includes station standards for NFDRS weather stations.

NFDRS – Year-Round Data Collection Stations - Includes all permanent 24-hour observing stations that meet the following criteria:

• Operates to minimum standards year round to support designated wildland fire season.

• Equipped with the minimum NFDRS sensor complement (see page 4).

• Meets minimum quality assurance requirements (see page 1).

• 24-hourly readings are delivered to the Weather Information Management System (WIMS) hourly via GOES through WFMI Weather.

• NFDRS calculations are processed regularly in WIMS delivering historical data to the Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications (FAMWEB) data warehouse.

• (Optional) winterized rain gauge (weighing gauge, heated gauge, etc.).

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 3 of 46

NFDRS – Seasonal Data Collection Stations – Includes all permanent 24-hour observing stations that meet the following criteria:

• Operates to minimum standards to support designated wildland fire season (can operate 12 months or less).

• Equipped with the minimum NFDRS sensor complement (see page 4).

• Meets minimum quality assurance requirements (see page 1).

• 24-hourly readings are delivered to WIMS hourly via GOES through WFMI Weather during seasonal operational period.

• NFDRS calculations are processed regularly, during seasonal operational period, in WIMS delivering historical data to the FAMWEB data warehouse.

Other – Includes all resource, special purpose, portable (non-fire) and miscellaneous stations that provide accurate weather data but do not meet the fire weather station standards.

Note: The minimum NFDRS standard is the Seasonal Data Collection Station.

WIMS Identification Numbers Any permanent RAWS station that is intended to be used for NFDRS purposes needs to obtain a WIMS identification number through the servicing Geographic Area Predictive Services unit. The physical station owner will coordinate with the local dispatch organization to identify a WIMS station owner. The WIMS station owner will contact Predictive Services to obtain a WIMS identification number and set up the station profile in WIMS. Once the station is established in WIMS, the WIMS station owner will assign personnel to conduct daily observation verification and NFDRS processes.

Telemetry Policy The following telemetry and input standardization ONLY affects stations in support of NFDRS.

All stations designated for NFDRS use will deliver data to WFMI Weather via GOES Satellite telemetry and send to WIMS on at least an hourly basis. The GOES transmitter and format used must be compatible with the WFMI Weather system.

GOES telemetry is the minimum standard; however, station owners may apply additional telemetry options as desired at the local level.

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Identifiers (NESDIS ID):

This is an eight digit alphanumeric identification number assigned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that becomes the RAWS identification number, such as 234567EO. NESDIS identifiers are assigned to every NFDRS RAWS, as well as many portable RAWS, which allows them to transmit data to the GOES satellites. The NESDIS ID is critical metadata for every station and that identifier ties the RAWS to a specific location on earth in latitude/longitude. The proper assignment and tracking of NESDIS IDs is critical. Inappropriate assignment or reassignment of NESDIS IDs can result in misdirected weather data and conflicting metadata.

Interagency policy and guidelines for assignment of NESDIS IDs shall be:

• NESDIS identifiers should not be changed unless there is a compelling reason to change them.

• Any change in NESDIS IDs for existing NFDRS RAWS requires a change in WIMS and the appropriate station owner in WIMS must be consulted prior.

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 4 of 46

• NESDIS IDs are not unique for any agency per the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group (STIWG). Hence there is no need to assign any special set of identifiers for any given agency.

Note: For additional information on how to obtain or change a NESDIS ID, please contact the RAWS Depot at rawshelp@blm.gov.)

Operational Period The optimal operating period for all weather stations used for the NFDRS is year-round. However, the minimum operational period is dictated by the following:

• A minimum 30-day start-up period prior to the need for NFDRS indices (for example, the wildland fire season as designated by the local manager, region, or geographic area coordination center) is required for each seasonal weather station to properly calibrate the model.

• Annual fluctuations in season length and use of the visual greenness (available on the Wildland Fire Assessment System [WFAS] home page) or Growing Season Index images (both available on the U.S. Forest Service Wildland Fire Assessment System page at http://www.wfas.net) is recommended to assist the local or regional fire manager.

The following guidelines are recommended for any use of a weather station for NFDRS that is not owned by the requesting user.

• Notify the physical and/or WIMS station owner that you are using this station for NFDRS or other applications.

• When a longer operating season is required by an adjoining unit, the non-owning user should assist in the management of that station, including any additional costs for operation or maintenance.

Sensor and Data Requirements

NFDRS Station Minimum Sensor Complement NFDRS requires hourly measurements of precipitation duration and amount. In addition, an instantaneous air temperature reading will be taken each hour. Ten minute averages will be computed for the following variables: relative humidity, wind direction, and wind speed. Solar radiation will be recorded over a 60-minute average. Detailed data sampling requirements are listed under each specific sensor/instrument in the subsections below.

Note: Regarding automatic fuel temperature/moisture measurements, the Fire Danger Subcommittee has recommended that a fuel moisture value be obtained from an automatic model. Solar radiation sensors will eventually provide input to the model to produce derived fuel moisture/fuel temperature values reflective of actual conditions. Fuel moisture ‘stick’ sensors are not required for NFDRS calculations; however, data from these sensors are currently utilized by a variety of user groups for fire applications.

GOES telemetered station sensor update readings will coincide with the assigned transmission time. The instantaneous readings must be taken within the 5 minutes up to and including the transmission time.

Further, if 10-minute averages are taken, the sensor average readings must be taken within the 15 minutes prior to the assigned GOES transmission time. Example: if a station transmits to GOES at 45 minutes past the hour, the sensor’s instantaneous readings must be taken between 40 and 45 minutes past the hour and the averaged readings must be initiated between 30 and 35 minutes past the hour.

mailto:rawshelp@blm.gov http://www.wfas.net/

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 5 of 46

Sensor data must transmit in English units.

Rain Gauge Precipitation is the amount of water falling upon the earth as rain or in frozen form such as snow, sleet, or hail. It is expressed as the depth of water that would cover a flat surface. Rainfall output will be the cumulative total of rainfall for the rain year determined by the agency or maintenance cycle. Year-round precipitation information is not necessary for NFDRS. (Reference classification sections of this document for either NFDRS or manual stations for additional information). However, if the station reports year-round and the user determines the need for collecting year-round precipitation information, a winterized gauge (heated gauges, weighing-gauge, etc.) may be necessary.

Note: Stations without winterized precipitation gauges will often show a large rain event in early spring due to normal thawing cycles.

Sensor Standard Sampling Height 1-6 feet, varies with mounting tower Measurement Units Inches Range 00.00 through 99.99 inches Resolution .01 inches Accuracy +/- .02 inches from 900 ml over 20 minutes

Data Standards Type Measurement Continuous cumulative measurement Data Logged Hourly Data Format XX.XX

Wind Speed Wind speed (WS) is the rate at which air passes a given point.

Sensor Standards Sampling Height 20 feet Measurement Units Statute miles per hour Range 0-100 miles per hour Resolution 1 statute mile per hour Accuracy +/- 5% of reading

Data Standards - 10-Minute Average Type of measurement 10-minute average from no less than 600 samples Data Logged Hourly Data Format XXX

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 6 of 46

Optional Measurement - Peak WS – Data Format Standards Type of Measurement Maximum speed for previous 60 minutes from no less than 720 samples Data Logged Hourly Data Format XXX

Wind Direction Wind direction (WD) refers to the direction from which the air is moving.

Sensor Standards Sampling Height 20 feet Measurement Units Degrees from true north Range 0-360 degrees Resolution 1 degree Accuracy +/- 5 degrees

Data Standards - 10 Min Average Type of Measurement 10-minute average from no less than 600 samples Data Logged Hourly Data Format XX

Optional Measurement - Peak WD - Data Format Standards Type of Measurement Direction at peak wind speed

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 7 of 46

Air Temperature Air temperature refers to the air surrounding the weather station instrumentation.

Sensor Standards Sampling Height 4-8 feet Measurement Units Degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit Range -50 to +60 degrees Celsius -58 degrees to +140 degrees Fahrenheit

Resolution 1o Fahrenheit 1° Celsius

Accuracy +/- 1o Fahrenheit +/- .6o Celsius

Data Standards Type of Measurement Instantaneous reading Data Logged Hourly Data Format XXX

Relative Humidity Relative humidity is the percentage ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor required for saturation at existing temperature.

Sensor Standards Sampling Height 4-8 feet Measurement Units Percent Range 0-100% Resolution 1% Accuracy 0-80% - +/- 2.00% at 25 degrees Celsius 80-100% - +/- 5% at 25 degrees Celsius

Data Standards Type of Measurement 10-minute average from no less than 600 samples

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 8 of 46

Battery Voltage Battery voltage is the Data Collection Platform (DCP)/Datalogger battery current voltage. This item is recorded for remote troubleshooting and data validation purposes.

Data Standards Range 0-15 Volts (11.8 considered minimum) Accuracy .1 Volts Type of Measurement Instantaneous Sample Interval Hourly Data Format XX.X

Solar Radiation Solar radiation is the amount of sunlight energy delivered to local fuels.

Sensor Standards Sampling Height 5-8 feet (to prevent shading during the day) Measurement Units Millivolts Resolution 1 Millivolt Output Watts per meter squared Accuracy +/- 5% (Under most normal daylight conditions)

Data Standards Type of Measurement 60 minute average taken from 60 samples prior to transmission Data Logged Hourly Data Format XXXX

Sensor Reading Order All sensors are programmed in the following standard order:

Order Sensor Name SHEF Code 01 Rainfall PC 02 10-Min. Avg. Wind Speed US 03 10-Min. Avg. Wind Direction UD 04 Air Temperature TA 05 Fuel Temperature* MT 06 10-Min Avg. Relative Humidity XR 07 Battery Voltage VB

08 Fuel Moisture* RD 09 Peak Wind Direction UX 10 Peak Wind Speed UG 11 Solar Radiation RD

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 9 of 46

All sensors with the exceptions of those marked by an asterisk (*) are required by NFDRS. If fuel moisture and/or fuel temperature sensors are not used, the order moves up accordingly. Additions to the standard required sensor complement will be facilitated on a case-by-case basis. All other non-NFDRS sensors will be transmitted after Solar Radiation. Check with the Remote Sensing/Fire Weather Support Unit (RSFWSU) to ensure your program is compliant with WFMI Weather/WIMS. The RSFWSU is operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an interagency weather station repair and maintenance facility located in Boise, ID.

Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) The station must stay synchronized with coordinated universal time. GPS units are required for hourly (or more frequent) GOES transmissions. Readings from these receivers are not required as part of the data stream.

Site Selection/Relocation

The RAWS Network Analysis In 2010, NWCG commissioned the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to complete a study that addressed the question: what is the appropriate RAWS network? The report is fire-centric and provided an analysis of existing NFDRS RAWS in WIMS and Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) weather stations that can be used as an aid when making decisions pertaining to the placement or movement RAWS weather stations.

The report stressed that it is best to think of the RAWS network not in terms of size, but rather agency mission. The network has grown through a need to acquire weather information and add value by determining fire danger, fire behavior, etc. RAWS serve in both capacities of point data and weather grids, and provide unique value by representing geographic areas not generally covered by other networks. Uses of the network and the combination of the metrics provided in the study along with local knowledge should serve as guides. Consider the following information found in the report.

If consideration is being given to moving or removing a station, the various station attributes that comprise the RAWS Uniqueness Index (RUI) should be considered in addition to local knowledge including established documents such as Fire Danger Operating Plans. It is probably best to compare index values within GACCs, rather than across the country as a whole. Low index values arise due to one or more quantitative attributes of the station, but low values do not necessarily mean a bad station.

It is important to examine all of the input index values comprising the RUI. For example, a high terrain complexity score suggests that the station is measuring across a rapidly changing climate environment due to elevation differences. A high data denial score should be used as an indication that removing a station will have adverse effects on gridded weather and related fields such as fire danger. This may be due to removing the station in the data denial experiment and/or there is a relatively larger horizontal and/or vertical separation to the next station.

• If interest exists in adding a station, the gap maps shown in Appendices 1-10 of the analysis, What is the Appropriate RAWS Network, PMS 1003 (https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/1003), are based on an IDI analysis. These should be used to help assist locating the new site. Zero IDI values on the map show areas of data void (no RAWS representation on the RAWS maps; no RAWS or ASOS representation on the RAWS+ASOS maps); the grid would be improved if areas with low index values had more stations. Utilizing GIS layers, the IDI values can be overlaid on top of other variables such as values at risk, vegetation, agency boundaries, etc. to assist in determining new station locations.

https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/1003

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 10 of 46

Process for Installing a New or Moving an Existing Station

1. When installing a new or moving an existing station, it is particularly important to involve the

National Weather Service (NWS) fire weather and Predictive Services meteorologists along with other interagency wildland fire personnel, as appropriate, in determining a new site or relocating an existing station.

2. Contact your agency and/or regional RAWS coordinator. To get help from your national coordinator, go to the National Interagency Fire Center Interagency Remote Automatic Weather Stations web page, https://raws.nifc.gov/raws-interagency-contacts. It is particularly important to contact your agency weather station coordinator when moving an existing station in order to maintain integrity of historical data. If an existing station has been moved, relocation information must be updated in WIMS application to clearly include the fact that the station is reporting from a new location.

3. Obtain the following station site information: station name, county, elevation, latitude/longitude, and data measurement elements. Complete station information is to be entered in the WFMI Weather database. For latitude and longitude, NAD 83 is the datum standard and the data are to be entered in degrees/minutes/seconds and decimal seconds out to the nearest hundredth (two decimal places). Ensure the station data entered into WFMI Weather and WIMS are identical.

4. Stations that will be used for NFDRS calculations will need to obtain a 6-digit weather station identification number (also referred to as NWS/WIMS station ID number) for your station through your Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) Predictive Services unit.

5. Transmission via GOES satellite requires a National Environmental Satellite Data Information Systems (NESDIS) Identification Number. Contact the RAWS Depot at rawshelp@blm.gov.

Site Selection Guidelines The standard fire weather station should be located in a large, open area away from obstructions and sources of dust and surface moisture. The station should be on level ground where there is a low vegetative cover. Furthermore, it should be situated to receive full sun for the greatest possible number of hours per day during the fire season (generally 0700 to 1900 hours). If located on a slope, a south or west exposure is required to meet fire danger rating standards. (John E. Deeming, 1972).

Consider security from animals and human vandalism when selecting a site. To prevent any damage from wildlife, livestock etc., installation of a fence is highly recommended.

The following rules govern the location of an NFDRS fire weather station:

• Locate the station in a place that is representative of the conditions existing in the general area of concern. Consider vegetative cover type, topographic features, elevation, climate, local weather patterns, etc.

• Select a site that will provide for long-term operation and a relatively unchanged exposure.

Consider site development plans, e.g., roads, buildings, parking areas; ultimate sheltering by growth of vegetation; and site accessibility during the intended operational period.

• Arrange the station so as to give data that is representative of the area in which the station is situated. Consider exposure requirements for each instrument in relation to such things as prevailing winds, movement of the sun, topography, vegetative cover, nearby reflective surfaces, and wind obstructions.

https://raws.nifc.gov/raws-interagency-contacts mailto:rawshelp@blm.gov

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 11 of 46

In accordance with the above rules, the following situations should be avoided when selecting a station site:

• Sources of dust such as roads and parking areas. If unavoidable, locate station at least 100 feet on the windward side of the source.

• Sources of surface moisture such as irrigated lawns, pastures, gardens, lakes, swamps, and rivers. If unavoidable, locate station several hundred feet to the windward side of the source.

• Large reflective surfaces such as white painted buildings. The same holds for natural reflective surfaces such as lakes, ponds, canals, and large rock surfaces. If unavoidable, locate station on north side, but far enough away so as not to be artificially shaded or influenced (at least a distance equal to the height of the reflective surface or 50 feet, whichever is greater).

• Extensively paved or black-topped areas. If unavoidable, locate station at least 50 feet to the windward side.

• Large buildings, trees, and dense vegetation. Locate station at least a distance equal to the height of the obstruction. Ideally, when dealing with tall, dense vegetation the station should be located a distance that is equal to seven times the height of the obstructing vegetation.

• Distinct changes in topography such as gullies, peaks, ridges, steep slopes, and narrow valleys.

Site Relocation Guidelines

• Stations that do not meet the siting guidelines should be considered for relocation according to the process outlined above.

• When moving an existing station, regardless of distance moved, Predictive Services must be contacted to assist in the entire administrative process and to make contact with interagency partners and other users. It is particularly important to contact your agency weather station coordinator when moving an existing station in order to maintain integrity of historical data.

Station relocation information must be updated in WFMI Weather by the person with MaintEdit Role for the station, WIMS by the station owner, and the Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC) by emailing wrcc@dri.edu to clearly include the fact that the station is reporting from a new location. It is important to remember that the function of the GPS unit on the RAWS station is not to store and/or transmit location data but to synchronize of transmission times.

A WIMS station ID number must be changed if:

• The station is moved to a significantly different elevation or distance from the original station location.

• The station is moved across a county boundary.

Other considerations when moving a station with regard to changing WIMS station ID numbers include the following:

• The station is moved into an area of different exposure (for example shading, wind obstructions, etc.).

• The station is moved into an area of different topography.

A new NESDIS ID is not required for a move, but station location metadata must be kept as accurate as possible. The appropriate person should enter/change that information in WFMI Weather as soon as appropriate.

mailto:wrcc@dri.edu

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 12 of 46

Note: Agencies that are considering buying a new weather station for use in NFDRS should consult the local National Weather Service, Predictive Services and other interagency partners. A consensus among these groups will ensure the interagency NFDRS station network is adequate and limit the cost of needless station overlap.

Tower Specifications As identified within this standard, NFDRS Weather Stations may be located in very remote and rugged locations. These stations are or will be either permanent or semi-permanent sites. Some sites will be operated for 12 months a year in severe environmental conditions.

There are several types of towers that incorporate NFDRS sensor complements. Installation of these towers should be in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications. Agency safety regulations apply to tower climbing. If a tower is “climbable,” it must meet all applicable agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for climbing criteria (see OSHA manuals 1926.32,

1910.66 and 1910.268), located at the OSHA Laws and Regulations site at https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html.

The positioning of the tower is very important, and if positioned properly, greatly increases the speed of installation and future maintenance actions. Alignments, leveling and structural strength are the primary concerns with all types of tower and instrument installations.

Therefore, any tower that is used must be very sturdy, rugged and robust. Towers come in free standing, guyed, or portable configurations. Only guyed or freestanding towers should be used for NFDRS purposes. It should be noted that guyed towers may have additional construction costs at the site to facilitate excavation for concrete mounting pier and concrete anchor blocks.

If a guyed tower does not meet OSHA climbing specifications, it must have a tilting base. This will permit the tower to be laid over close to the ground to service all sensors. All non-climbable towers will have provisions (tilting or pivoting mast) for ground level service of instrumentation by maintenance personnel or be accessible by freestanding ladder, lift truck, or bucket lift without contacting the tower.

They also must provide adequate support and footing for technical staff to service and inspect all sensors while they are in place.

Ensure that towers have adequate mounting locations, facilities, and hardware availability to mount all sensors securely to the tower and their respective locations and heights. Severe conditions, e.g., ice loading, deep snow, high winds, may be normal for this equipment.

General Tower Specifications

• Survive 125 miles per hour winds.

• No horizontal or vertical movement (sliding once installed).

• Withstand snow loads of typical high mountain locations, if station is located in an area susceptible to these conditions.

• Support technical personnel on the tower while servicing all sensors.

• Provide adequate mounting surface and locations to meet NFDRS sensor requirements.

https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 13 of 46

Installation Once a site is selected that meets all of the site guidelines, it can then be prepared for installation of a weather station. Personnel installing weather stations should have attended a Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) maintenance class, or be assisted by trained personnel.

Trained personnel can be located through your agency weather station coordinator.

The following is a list of minimum information from the site that is necessary for station documentation.

Other information about your station may also be valuable and can be stored in WFMI Weather:

• Station Name

• Data Collection Platform (DCP)/Datalogger Model

• State

• County

• Agency

• Region

• Unit

• Sub-Unit (if needed)

• Transmitter Manufacturer and Model

• Installation Date

• Maintained by (and/or Point of Contact)

• Phone number/e-mail for Point of Contact

• Contract type

• Elevation

• Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

• Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Documentation. Installation and maintenance must be documented. It is required to record this information in WFMI Weather and station catalogs in WIMS. Station owners will take digital photos of each NFDRS weather station looking toward the station from each of the four cardinal directions in accordance with the requirements posted on the Desert Research Institute site at http://www.raws.dri.edu/documents/2006_09_30_Photography_SOP.doc, and submit them for posting to Western Region Climate Center at wrcc@dri.edu. Photos should be updated every three years at a minimum. A hard copy folder will be kept for each station by the station owner. In this folder should be photos of the area and station, a map, and the information printout from WFMI Weather and WIMS.

http://www.raws.dri.edu/documents/2006_09_30_Photography_SOP.doc mailto:wrcc@dri.edu

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 14 of 46

System Alignment and Leveling The tower, GOES antenna and wind direction are aligned from true north. It is important to include your local magnetic declination (east or west) readings when aligning the tower, GOES antenna, wind direction sensor, etc.

Once the tower has been aligned, it must be leveled. Once leveled, the tower should be staked to the ground. Staking the legs prevents the tower from being moved inadvertently in the installation process and during future maintenance visits.

Wind speed/wind direction (WS/WD) – Install according to manufacturer instructions. For NFDRS, these will be mounted at 20 feet. Pay special attention so that the WD sensor is oriented properly, is level and gives correct readings. Route data cable in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Using the mounting bracket supplied by the manufacturer, attach the tipping bucket using the leveling indicator attached to the sensor.

Antenna (GOES, cell-phone, radio-voice) – Assemble in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

The GOES antenna should be properly aligned for azimuth and elevation. Antenna alignment is accomplished using the compass and inclinometer. Remember to compensate for declination if required.

Solar panel – Mount with a southerly exposure to maximize solar energy input.

Solar radiation sensor – Install and level according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mount the instrument on the tower ensuring that it is not shaded by the tower, cables or instruments at any time of the day. For example, in the case of a standard tri-legged tower, the instrument should be mounted in the middle of the top west rail of the tower.

Structural Integrity All cables should be routed from their respective sensors to the DCP/Datalogger. Care should be taken in routing the cables to provide strain relief wherever required to prevent cable damage. When routing the cables, provide enough slack at both ends to permit a drip loop for moisture dissipation. When cable routing is complete, secure all cables to the tower using cable ties.

Inspect all cables and ensure that rubber O-rings are used at both ends to make watertight seals.

Consider “shielded” cables (metal conduit, PVC tubing) for protection from the elements and animals.

Ensure that all guy wiring is secured and tight. Ensure that the anchor rods are secured in order to prevent the tower from moving. Make sure all tower hardware is properly tightened. The RAWS system is now ready for systems checkout for operational accuracy.

Lifecycle Management As with any capital investment equipment, a lifecycle management plan for the weather station network should be in place and budgeted for. Ten years is the recommended life-cycle rotation for weather station equipment.

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 15 of 46

Station Maintenance Policy

Annual Maintenance Annual service of NFDRS RAWS stations will provide an opportunity to ensure general station integrity, perform necessary preventative maintenance, and replace sensor and components prior to expiration of their calibrated lifetimes.

In order to ensure accurate weather readings, a program of annual RAWS maintenance/calibration is required (+/- 45 days from installation or previous year’s maintenance date). Every NFDRS RAWS must receive, at a minimum, one annual onsite maintenance visit by either the local user or contracted personnel to ensure sensors are within calibration standards, and verify site and station conditions.

Service contracts for this purpose can be requested through the RSFWSU at https://raws.nifc.gov/remote-sensing-fire-weather-support-unit-statement-services or any vendor that will meet the national standards for field or depot-level service as described in this document.

The site inspection also allows for maintaining vegetation growth or mitigating other site parameters (for example, new irrigation systems, buildings) that may be compromising site integrity. It is important to keep vegetation trimmed at the surface to ensure it doesn’t block wind and air flow to sensors.

Reasonable attempts must be made to keep the site in accordance with siting guidelines. If there are regulations prohibiting appropriate site maintenance required to provide representative data, develop a plan to bring the station into compliance. This could be done by obtaining any necessary special authorizations to manage vegetation, or in the most unfavorable case, moving the station. If sites are considerably compromised, it is critical to document this in the station metadata, including photographs, so that users of the data have the opportunity to assess its value to them.

Unscheduled Maintenance / Emergency Repair Local land managers are responsible for monitoring the quality of the data produced by the weather stations in their fire response area. In the event of system failures, bad data, or questionable data, it is the responsibility of the station owner to initiate corrective action.

1. Year-round response time to GOES systems time drift will be immediate unless it is determined that there is no interference with another station. Validation of interference can be made through the RSFWSU Help Desk.

2. All other NFDRS station failures will be responded to as appropriate in light of the following:

a. Bad data affects the outputs of the model immediately. Responses to bad data, during fire season where the station is located, should be initiated immediately. Failures that occur outside fire season will be repaired before the station is initiated for the following fire season.

b. During fire season, action must be taken to respond to missing data as soon as possible, but no more than three days.

https://raws.nifc.gov/remote-sensing-fire-weather-support-unit-statement-services

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 16 of 46

Annual Maintenance and Sensor Replacement Standards Sensors and key components of an NFDRS RAWS station must be recalibrated or replaced on a regular basis to ensure the collection of consistent and reliable weather data throughout the NFDRS RAWS network. Annual service of NFDRS RAWS stations will provide an opportunity to ensure general station integrity, perform necessary preventative maintenance, and replace sensors and components prior to expiration of their calibrated lifetimes. The entries for specific equipment below outline yearly preventative maintenance, as well as minimum replacement times for each component. Minimum replacement time represents the optimum time to change any individual component. The servicing personnel may perform this function within +/- 45 days of the yearly expiration date to meet NFDRS maintenance requirements.

Field Service Tipping Bucket – Remove cover. Clean cover and orifice to ensure free flow of water. Do not disassemble further. Check all connections and verify that the instrument is level. Unless the rain year is reset automatically by the DCP/Datalogger on a certain date each year, reset the tipping bucket to 00.00.

Then simulate .5 inch of rain over 5 minutes and validate that it was recorded by the DCP/Datalogger.

Minimum Field Validation – Yearly Minimum Depot Calibration/Replacement – 3 Years

Wind Speed – Check for damage and alignment of cups, ice skirt and free movement of bearings.

Ensure nut is secure on RM Young sensor.

Minimum Calibration/Replacement – 2 Years

Wind Direction – Check for damage of pointer and feather, free movement of bearings. Manually rotate the sensor through each of the four quadrants and scan the data for accuracy.

Minimum Calibration/Replacement – 2 Years

Ultrasonic Wind Speed/Wind Direction – No calibration required, clear any obstruction between arms of transducers.

Relative Humidity/Air Temperature – Do not open; not field serviceable.

Minimum Calibration/Replacement – Yearly

Battery – Perform a voltage test. Replace batteries according to manufacturer recommendations or if you suspect problems. Some manufacturers recommend yearly, others recommend every three years.

Minimum Replacement – As necessary “D” cell (Supplemental Power) – Yearly

GOES Antenna – Check for broken, loose, or bent elements, proper alignment, and connectors for corrosion.

Minimum Calibration/Replacement – As needed

NWCG Standards for Fire Weather Stations 17 of 46

Cables – Check for cracking, deterioration, corrosion, proper routing, and security. Ensure O- rings are installed on all connectors. Replace as required for corrosion, aging, etc. Treat all connectors with moisture inhibitor (if required by manufacturer).

MINIMUM CALIBRATION/REPLACEMENT – As needed

Tower – Check for structural damage, proper alignment, and leveling. Be aware of potential risk to safety when dealing with a potentially damaged tower, e.g., tower rust, corrosion, cable fray, etc.

MINIMUM CALIBRATION/REPLACEMENT – As needed, if structure is compromised or as per manufacturer’s specifications

DCP/Dataloggers – Check for security, damage, and ensure that all cables are properly connected.

Verify the unit has the most recent version of the software or firmware installed. Change out as needed, e.g., defective, evidence of moisture, corrosion, rust, etc.

MINIMUM CALIBRATION/REPLACEMENT – As needed or in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications

Solar Radiation – Sensor must be cleaned periodically using only water and/or a mild detergent such as dishwashing soap.

MINIMUM CALIBRATION/REPLACEMENT – 3 Years

Depot Sensor Calibration Standards The…