Ticker for April 25, 2003

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
April 25, 2003     April 25, 2003     April 25, 2003     April 25, 2003


Hazards of Being a Mesonet Station, Revisited

A few months back, the Ticker highlighted a mortal enemy to all
Mesonet stations: lightning.

https://content.mesonet.org/ticker/archive/tickselect.cgi?mo=11&da=4&yr=2002

Today, we present another threat: wildfire.  Look at what a fast-moving
grassfire did to wind sentry Wynona last week:



Those anemometer cups are supposed to be perfectly round, but they were
melted into droopy shapes (and therefore replaced).


Hazards of Being a Mesonet Technician

That wildfire photo was snapped by Mesonet technician (and hand model)
Ken Meyers.  Ken has also documented some beautiful and rare wild
orchids at stations in his region.  Ken also came across this critter,
who'd just awakened from a long winter nap.  You don't want to step
on this guy!



Speaking of stuff you'd rather not step in, Ken snapped a this pic
shortly after one of his site visits: