By Scout Nelson
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will host a September 23,2026 ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of 35 new Nebraska Mesonet weather stations funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The event will recognize partners who supported the expansion of the statewide weather monitoring network.
The event will be held at the East Campus mesonet station, the flagship site used for testing new technology and educating visitors about the network. Attendees will be able to view the station and learn how the Nebraska Mesonet collects and delivers weather and soil data.
Nebraska’s mesonet now includes 104 weather stations that provide information critical to agriculture, natural resource management, emergency response, and wildfire prevention. The network monitors temperature, rainfall, humidity, soil moisture, crop water use, and wildfire risk across the state.
According to Mesonet Director Ruben Behnke, the addition of the 35 new stations helped close coverage gaps, particularly in the Sandhills region. The expansion has also increased interest in further improving and modernizing the network.
University leaders highlighted the importance of the mesonet for agriculture and public services. The data supports precision agriculture tools, weather monitoring systems, disaster relief efforts, and emergency preparedness programs.
The ceremony will include remarks from representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Weather Service, Nebraska Forest Service, and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Refreshments will be available for attendees.
The expanded Nebraska Mesonet continues to strengthen environmental monitoring across the state, providing valuable data that supports farmers, researchers, emergency managers, and communities throughout Nebraska.
Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP here.
Photo Credit: istock-urpspoteko
Categories: Nebraska, Education, Weather