RMBL Report
Weather Stations within and adjacent to
Gunnison County (other than RMBL’s)
This report is a 20 page summary of the available weather stations within and adjacent to
Gunnison County. While there are a few “stand-alone” weather stations without an
obvious linkage to a network of the same, there are three “weather station networks”
discussed below.
SNOTEL has eight relevant weather station sites. Data availability is well
understood with sensors and their data formats clearly presented below. This
makes it possible to create an automated feed for each of the SNOTEL sites.
AWS (aka “Weatherbug”) has seven relevant sites. Data availability is via the
web, station by station. Sensors on each site is less standardized and documented
than SNOTEL. However many of the AWS sites have camera images available
unlike SNOTEL which has none. Automated data collection is unknown and
would need further research.
NOAA (aka National Weather Service) collects data over 12,000 weather
stations world-wide. Of those, five are local weather station sites. Data
availability is divided into a series of products that report on specific portions of
the data. Data feeds or such specific data as “weather alerts” are available along
with the data presented below for the first of the local NOAA weather stations
(Aspen Airport).
NOAA also apparently receives weather data from non-NOAA weather stations
such as the one at GCEA and one at the Town of Crested Butte although that data
is not specifically available in the standard NOAA reports. Both GCEA’s weather
station and that of the Town of Crested Butte are shown below in the
“independent weather station” section of this report.
Miscellaneous other “independent” weather stations. Some independent stations
have camera images available. Note: the equipment used seems to be “consumer
grade” sensors that may not be as reliable or accurate as more expensive gear used
by institutions & agencies. If we wish, I believe we could work out automated
feeds for each of these independent sites.
Crested Butte Mountain Report hosts a variety of weather stations – one for
SNOTEL and one for NOAA, for example. Their ski patrol also monitors basic
weather data all over the mountain– particularly temperature and snow depth but
this data is typically used only by the ski patrol.
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A. SNOTEL: (US Dept. Agriculture: Water & Climate Center)
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/
Each SNOTEL site has either a standard sensor array or an enhanced sensor array.
Differences between these two sensor arrays is detailed below. (Note: depths of buried
sensors seems to vary from site to site)
SNOTEL Standard sensors may include any or all of the following
measurements. Site specific sensor information is linked to each of the SNOTEL sites
below. (Some SNOTEL sites reputed to have “standard sensors” do not report values for
all the sensors in the standard sensor package. )
Elem STANDARD SENSORS
Label Units Depth
Code Description
BAT1 BATT Battery-system volt N/A
SWC2 WTEQ Snow pillow-100" Sensotec in N/A
Cumulative Precipitation-100" Sensotec
PCC2 PREC in N/A
transducer
ATC5 TOBS Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATX5 TMAX Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATN5 TMIN Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATA5 TAVG Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
SDJC SNWD Snow depth - offset=dist. from gnd in N/A
BMAX BATX Battery-system volt N/A
BAT2 BATT Battery-secondary volt N/A
BMAX BATX Battery-system volt N/A
LBAT BATT Lithium battery for data logger backup volt N/A
v1smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct 4 inches
c1tmp STO Soil temperature degC 4 inches
v1sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l 4 inches
v1rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless 4 inches
v2smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct 8 inches
c2tmp STO Soil temperature degC 8 inches
v2sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l 8 inches
v2rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless 8 inches
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20
v3smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct
inches
20
c3tmp STO Soil temperature degC
inches
20
v3sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l
inches
20
v3rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless
inches
SNOTEL Enhanced sensors may include any or all of following. Site
specific sensor information is linked to each of the SNOTEL sites below.
Elem ENHANCED SENSORS
Label Units Depth
Code Description
BAT1 BATT Battery-system volt N/A
SWC2 WTEQ Snow pillow-100" Sensotec in N/A
Cumulative Precipitation-100" Sensotec
PCC2 PREC in N/A
transducer
ATC5 TOBS Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATX5 TMAX Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATN5 TMIN Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATA5 TAVG Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
SDJC SNWD Snow depth - offset=dist. from gnd in N/A
BMAX BATX Battery-system volt N/A
BAT2 BATT Battery-secondary volt N/A
BMAX BATX Battery-system volt N/A
LBAT BATT Lithium battery for data logger backup volt N/A
c1smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct 2 inches
c1tmp STO Soil temperature degC 2 inches
c1sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l 2 inches
c1rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless 2 inches
c3smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct 8 inches
c3tmp STO Soil temperature degC 8 inches
c3sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l 8 inches
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c3rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless 8 inches
20
c4smv SMS Soil moisture - percent water by volume pct
inches
20
c4tmp STO Soil temperature degC
inches
20
c4sal SAL Soil salinity gram/l
inches
20
c4rdc RDC Soil real dielectric constant unitless
inches
WSPHA WSPDV Wind speed hourly mph N/A
WDHA WDIRV Wind direction hourly degree N/A
WSPHX WSPDX Wind speed hourly mph N/A
SR1A1 SRADV Solar radiation-SM/ST - prev.hour watt/m2 N/A
RH1X1 RHUMX Relative humidity-SM/ST - previous hour pct N/A
RH1A1 RHUMV Relative humidity-SM/ST - previous hour pct N/A
BPHGC PRES Barometric Pressure Hg (Mercury) inch_Hg N/A
PCPHR PRCP Incremental Precipitation sensor in N/A
ATX5 TMAX Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATN5 TMIN Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
ATA5 TAVG Air temperature-extended range degC N/A
WSA24 WSPDV Wind speed - 24 hours mph N/A
WDDA WDIRV Wind direction daily degree N/A
WSPDX WSPDX Wind speed - daily mph N/A
SRC1A SRADV Solar radiation for Colorado watt/m2 N/A
RHX24 RHUMX Relative humidity - 24 hour maximum pct N/A
RHA24 RHUMV Relative humidity - 24 hour average pct N/A
PCP24 PRCP Incremental Precipitation - 24 hour total in N/A
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SPECIFC SNOTEL SITES
1. PARK CONE: about 40
miles from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude: 38 49'
Longitude: -106 35'
Elevation: 2926 meters
Site Number: 680
Station ID: 06l02s
Click here for detail on sensors
2. BUTTE : about 8 miles
from RMBL
Site Number: 380
Station ID: 06l11s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 38 53'
Longitude: -106 57'
Elevation: 3096 m
Click here for detail on sensors
3. SCHOFIELD PASS: about
8 miles from RMBL
Site Number: 737
Station ID: 07k11s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 39 0'
Longitude: -107 2'
Elevation: 3261 m
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4. NORTH LOST TRAIL:
about 13 miles from RMBL
Site Number: 669
Station ID: 07k01s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 39 4'
Longitude: -107 8'
Elevation: 2804 m
5. MC CLURE’S PASS:
about 25 miles from RMBL
Note: this site is adjacent but
not in Gunnison County
Site Number: 618
Station ID: 07k09s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 39 7'
Longitude: -107 17'
Elevation: 2895 m
6. INDEPENDENCE PASS:
about 20 miles from RMBL
Note: this site is adjacent but
not in Gunnison County
State: Colorado
Latitude: 39 4'
Longitude: -106 36'
Elevation: 3230 m
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7. BRUMLEY: about 25
miles from RMBL
Note: this site is adjacent but
not in Gunnison County
Site Number: 369
Station ID: 06k40s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 39 5'
Longitude: -106 32'
Elevation: 3230 m
8. PORPHYRY CREEK:
about 35 miles from RMBL
Site Number: 701
Station ID: 06l03s
State: Colorado
Latitude: 38 29'
Longitude: -106 20'
Elevation: 3279 m
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B. AWS: Curecanti
(US Dept. Interior: National Park Service)
http://www.aws.com/cities/denver/default.asp?map=gunnison
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
CURECANTI: about
35 miles from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 2316 m
AWS: (Gunnison Community School)
http://www.aws.com/cities/denver/default.asp?map=gunnison
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
Gunnison: about 30 miles
from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 2438 m
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AWS: (CBMR)
http://weather.weatherbug.com/CO/Crested-Butte-weather/weather-
station.html?zcode=z5602
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
Mt Crested Butte: about
3 miles from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 2895 m
AWS: (Aspen Airport)
http://weather.weatherbug.com/CO/Crested-Butte-weather/weather-
station.html?zcode=z5602
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
Aspen Airport: about 15
miles from RMBL
Colorado
Latitude: 39 1344
Longitude -106 5210
Elevation: 2382 Meters
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AWS: (Cottonwood Pass/Nathrop)
http://weather.weatherbug.com/CO/Crested-Butte-weather/weather-
station.html?zcode=z5602
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
Cottonwood Pass: about 25
miles from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 2682 m
AWS: (Monarch Pass)
http://weather.weatherbug.com/CO/Crested-Butte-weather/weather-
station.html?zcode=z5602
General Info: Measurements include temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, daily rain
monthly rain, barometric pressure, light measurements (sample light: Light: 20.48"Hg
High: 21.58"Hg at 11:18a, Low: 1.93"Hg at 6:42a)
Monarch Pass: about 80
miles from RMBL
Latitude = 38.4880
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 3667 m
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C. NOAA
The following is a sample (from Aspen Airport) of the data available from NOAA for the
following seven locations. This data can be presented as an HTML page, one per station.
Or it is also available as a data feed (via RSS or XML). Such a data feed allows the
RMBL to implement an automated data collection process for NOAA data. See the
appendix for more information about these data feeds.
Aspen, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (-----, KASE)
Current Weather Conditions:
Aspen, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, CO, United States
(KASE) 39-13-44N 106-52-10W 2354M
Conditions at Aug 28, 2007 - 12:53 PM EDT
2007.08.28 1653 UTC
Wind from the ENE (060 degrees) at 3 MPH (3 KT)
Visibility 10 mile(s)
Sky conditions clear
Temperature 64.0 F (17.8 C)
Dew Point 50.0 F (10.0 C)
Relative 60%
Humidity
Pressure 30.37 in. Hg (1028 hPa)
(altimeter)
ob KASE 281653Z 06003KT 10SM CLR 18/10 A3037 RMK AO2
SLP174 T01780100
Maximum and Minimum Temperatures
Maximum Minimum
Temperature Temperature
F (C) F (C)
In the 6 hours preceding Aug 28, 2007 - 07:53 AM
53.1 (11.7) 50.0 (10.0)
EDT / 2007.08.28 1153 UTC
In the 24 hours preceding Aug 28, 2007 - 02:53 AM
64.9 (18.3) 48.9 (9.4)
EDT / 2007.08.28 0653 UTC
Precipitation Accumulation
Precipitation
Amount
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In the 6 hours preceding Aug 28, 2007 - 07:53 AM EDT /
0.02 inches
2007.08.28 1153 UTC
In the 24 hours preceding Aug 28, 2007 - 07:53 AM EDT /
0.07 inches
2007.08.28 1153 UTC
24 Hour Summary
Time Temperature Dew Point Pressure Wind
Weather
EDT (UTC) F (C) F (C) Inches (hPa) MPH
Latest 1 PM (17) Aug 28 64.0 (17.8) 50.0 (10.0) 30.37 (1028) ENE 3
Noon (16) Aug 28 61.0 (16.1) 50.0 (10.0) 30.37 (1028) ENE 3
11 AM (15) Aug 28 55.0 (12.8) 51.1 (10.6) 30.36 (1028) Calm
10 AM (14) Aug 28 52.0 (11.1) 50.0 (10.0) 30.35 (1027) Calm
9 AM (13) Aug 28 51.1 (10.6) 48.9 (9.4) 30.33 (1027) Calm
8 AM (12) Aug 28 51.1 (10.6) 50.0 (10.0) 30.32 (1026) SSW 6
7 AM (11) Aug 28 52.0 (11.1) 50.0 (10.0) 30.31 (1026) SSE 5 light rain
6 AM (10) Aug 28 51 (11) 50 (10) 30.3 (1026) Calm
5 AM (9) Aug 28 51 (11) 51 (11) 30.3 (1026) Calm
4 AM (8) Aug 28 51.1 (10.6) 50.0 (10.0) 30.29 (1025) SW 5
3 AM (7) Aug 28 51 (11) 50 (10) 30.29 (1025) Calm
2 AM (6) Aug 28 51 (11) 50 (10) 30.29 (1025) Calm
1 AM (5) Aug 28 53.1 (11.7) 53.1 (11.7) 30.29 (1025) Calm
Midnight (4) Aug 28 53 (12) 53 (12) 30.28 (1025) SW 3
11 PM (3) Aug 27 55.0 (12.8) 54.0 (12.2) 30.27 (1025) NE 3
10 PM (2) Aug 27 55.9 (13.3) 54.0 (12.2) 30.28 (1025) Calm light rain
9 PM (1) Aug 27 57 (14) 55 (13) 30.27 (1025) Calm light rain
8 PM (0) Aug 27 61.0 (16.1) 52.0 (11.1) 30.25 (1024) NNE 8
7 PM (23) Aug 27 64.0 (17.8) 51.1 (10.6) 30.23 (1023) N7
6 PM (22) Aug 27 64.0 (17.8) 50.0 (10.0) 30.24 (1024) Variable 3
5 PM (21) Aug 27 62.1 (16.7) 52.0 (11.1) 30.25 (1024) NNE 5
4 PM (20) Aug 27 62.1 (16.7) 46.9 (8.3) 30.25 (1024) N3
3 PM (19) Aug 27 61.0 (16.1) 48.0 (8.9) 30.26 (1024) N3 light rain
Oldest 2 PM (18) Aug 27 62.1 (16.7) 45.0 (7.2) 30.26 (1024) N6
Time Temperature Dew Point Pressure Wind
Weather
EDT (UTC) F(C) F(C) Inches(hPa) (MPH)
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RMBL Report
Aspen, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (-----, KASE)
Aspen Airport: about 15
miles from RMBL
Latitude: 39 1344
Longitude -106 5210
Elevation: 2382 Meters
Cottonwood Pass (-----, K7BM)
Cottonwood Pass: about 25
miles from RMBL
Lat: 38.4657
Long -106.1305
Elevation: 2995 Meters
13 of 20 12/17/2011
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Gunnison Aviation Weather Reporting Station (-----, K2V9)
Gunnison Aviation about 30
miles from RMBL
Lat 38.535213
Long -106.943863
Elevation: 2380 Meters
Gunnison, Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (-----, KGUC)
Gunnison Airport: about 30
miles from RMBL
Lat 38.535213
Long -106.943863
Elevation: 2380 Meters
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Saguache, Saguache Municipal Airport (-----, K04V)
Saguache Airport about 90
miles from RMBL
Lat: 38.055000
Long: -106.100700
Altitude: 2385 Meters
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D. Independent Weather Stations: Gunnison
(GCEA)
GCEA about 30 miles from
RMBL
Lat 38.535213
Long -106.943863
Elevation: 2380 Meters
FYI: Scotty Willey receives
weather data periodically from
GCEA.
(Jon Szalankiewicz)
http://www.gunnyrock.com/
General Info: Measurements include time via an atomic clock, temperature,
humidity, barometer, rainfall, wind velocity, wind direction, wind chill factor
display, dew point. All the weather data can be recorded and uploaded to a PC.
Jon does maintain access to other data including web cam shots of Gunnison.
Gunnison: about 30 miles
from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880,
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation 2341 m
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(Western State College)
Information is not yet available.
Gunnison: about 30 miles
from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.4880,
Longitude = -107.2980
Elevation: 2341 m
CB South:
(Graham Ullrich)
http://flyingcracker.com/
General Info: Measurements include temperature, humidity, barometer, rainfall,
wind velocity, wind direction, wind chill, dew point. All the weather data can be
recorded and uploaded to a PC. Graham also has a variety of other data
gathered from such sources as NOAA, etc. He also displays web cam images.
CB South: about 16 miles
from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.812390
Longitude -106.891590
Elevation: 2500 m
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Crested Butte:
(Town of Crested Butte)
Temperature & rainfall only. The weather station is at the Town’s Water & Sewer
offices. Their data is turned over to the National Weather Service.
Crested Butte: about 8 miles
from RMBL
State: Colorado
Latitude = 38.812390
Longitude -106.891590
Elevation: 2682 m
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APPENDIX: NOAA Data feed info for all weather stations in
Colorado
Observation Location RSS XML
Saguache (K04V)
Kremmling County/McElroy Airfield Airport
(K20V)
Mount Werner (K3MW)
Wilkerson Pass (K4BM)
Sunlight (K5SM)
Cottonwood Pass (K7BM)
Air Force Academy (KAFF)
Akron/Washington Co (KAKO)
Alamosa Muni(awos) (KALS)
Denver/Centennial (KAPA)
Aspen/Sardy Field (KASE)
Broomfield/Jeffco (KBJC)
Buckley AFB/Aurora (KBKF)
Craig-Moffat(amos) (KCAG)
Copper Mountain (12,400 feet) (KCCU)
Cortez/Montezuma Co (KCEZ)
Colorado Springs (KCOS)
Wolf Creek Pass (11,760 feet) (KCPW)
Denver Intnl Arpt (KDEN)
Durango/La Plata Co (KDRO)
Meeker (KEEO)
Eagle Co. Regional (KEGE)
Fort Carson/Butts (KFCS)
Fort Collins (awos) (KFNL)
Front Range Airport (KFTG)
Grand Junction (KGJT)
Gunnison Co. (awos) (KGUC)
Greeley/Weld (awos) (KGXY)
Hayden/Yampa (awos) (KHDN)
Burlington (KITR)
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Lamar (KLAA)
La Junta Municipal (KLHX)
Limon Municipal (KLIC)
Leadville/Lake Co. (KLXV)
Elbert Mountain (KMNH)
Montrose Co. Arpt (KMTJ)
Monarch Pass (12,030 feet) (KMYP)
Pueblo Memorial(aw) (KPUB)
Rifle/Garfield Rgnl (KRIL)
Steamboat Springs (KSBS)
Springfield/Comanche Natl Grass (KSPD)
Trinidad/Animas Co. (KTAD)
Telluride Regional (KTEX)
South La Veta Pass (10,216 feet) (KVTP)
There are 44 stations in CO
About RSS
RSS is an XML based document format for syndicating news and other timely
news-like information. It provides headlines, URLs to the source document and
brief description information in an easy to understand and use format. RSS based
"News Readers" and "News Aggregators" allow the display of RSS headlines on
workstation desktops. Software libraries exist to read the RSS format and present
RSS headlines on RMBL webpages and other online RMBL applications.
About XML
NWS offers hourly weather observations formatted as ASCII text along with xml
tags to aid in the parsing of the information by automated programs used to
populate RMBL databases, display information on RMBL webpages or other
similar applications.
This format is not to be confused with RSS and cannot be read by RSS readers
and aggregators. These files present more detailed information then the RSS
feeds in strings friendly for parsing.
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