Landmark State Funding Boosts New York State Mesonet
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 28, 2026) — University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez on Thursday praised the state’s landmark investment in the New York State Mesonet, a critical asset operated by UAlbany to protect New Yorkers from dangerous weather.
The 2026-27 state budget includes $2 million to support NYS Mesonet operations at UAlbany.
With 127 standard sites from Long Island to Buffalo and many more specialized high-tech instruments in between, the Mesonet is the most advanced early warning weather network in the United States and is used daily by state and local authorities to help predict and respond to dangers like flash flooding, icy roads, wildfire risk and to track unhealthy air.
“This historic funding for UAlbany’s NYS Mesonet is a strong testament to New York’s commitment to protecting communities from severe weather, especially as we navigate the evolving risks posed by climate change,” Rodríguez said. “Whether it’s deadly flooding or unhealthy air from wildfires, the NYS Mesonet at UAlbany is an unparalleled tool for understanding these dangers and responding effectively. New York is lucky to have leaders like Gov. Kathy Hochul committed to confronting these challenges head on, and UAlbany is lucky to have advocates like Sen. Patricia Fahy and assemblymembers Gabriella Romero and John McDonald who have been dogged in their efforts to secure essential funding for the NYS Mesonet’s work.”
The funding marks the first time the state has earmarked operating support for the network, which was built for New York State by UAlbany from 2015 to 2018 using federal disaster aid following Superstorm Sandy. Since then, the University has operated and maintained the network on the state’s behalf.
State Sen. Patricia Fahy said, “New York State’s Mesonet is the most accurate and advanced state-level weather observation system in the United States and is vital not just for recording critical statistics and meteorology, but also for understanding the developing impacts of climate change. As the federal government cuts funding for climate action and clean, renewable energy, farmers this year experienced one of the worst late frosts and dramatic temperature swings. Securing this $2 million means that we’ll be able to better understand how climate change is impacting communities across New York State while providing us with cutting-edge, real-time data in emergencies and extreme weather events. I want to thank UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez for his leadership, the team at the New York State Mesonet for their work, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero for their partnership on this effort.”
Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “New York relies on experts and specialized technology to make our daily life function in countless ways, and the New York State Mesonet is an indispensable system. Our advanced weather-detection system is the best in the nation and keeps millions of New Yorkers safe every day by helping local authorities and agencies respond to dangerous, rapidly changing conditions. I am so proud that we have passed a state budget that reflects the importance of the Mesonet with a well-deserved $2 million funding allocation. I thank the NYS Mesonet team for their incredible work, and Senator Fahy and Assembly Speaker Heastie for their partnership in securing these funds. I hope to see this vital resource continuing to thrive and receive support!”
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "New York State Mesonet provides important data related to energy and extreme weather. This cutting-edge technology allows preparation and planning for significant weather events, which is not only lifesaving but also supports New York's agricultural community. The Mesonet is a critical resource for many state agencies and plays a vital role in safety and preparedness for New York State and our localities. I am proud to have worked with Senator Fahy, and Assemblymember Romero to continue to support this important funding in the New York State Budget."
Each Mesonet site is equipped with automated sensors that measure numerous weather variables in real time, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, precipitation, solar radiation, snow depth and soil temperature and moisture, as well as a camera that photographs current conditions.
In addition to the standard sites located in every county, several specialized sub-networks have been deployed, including 17 advanced atmospheric profilers that provide additional information about the atmosphere up to six miles above ground; a Flux Network of 18 stations that monitors surface energy; and a Snow Network of 20 sites that measure the water content of snow.
The data are collected every five minutes and sent to UAlbany’s ETEC building, where the observations are automatically quality-controlled before being incorporated into weather prediction models and decision-support tools. The information is widely relied upon by forecasting, emergency management and transportation agencies across New York, including the National Weather Service and the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center, a partnership between UAlbany and the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to ensure entities throughout New York’s public sector have the actionable weather intelligence they need.
Aiding renewable energy and agriculture
NYS Mesonet data also is used by the state’s energy sector, with assistance from UAlbany researchers, to predict storm damage to the electric grid and advance the state’s climate goals by improving forecasting for renewable power generation from wind and solar. Many Upstate Mesonet sites are located on farms, for which accurate, detailed and timely weather information is critical.
The term “mesonet” comes from “mesoscale,” or intermediate scale. In atmospheric science, mesonets are used to understand weather patterns at a more local level — generally from dozens to hundreds of miles — which is essential for emergency management. The amount of rainfall, for example, might vary dramatically from one county to the next. Gaps in the state’s ability to see these differences led to dangerous weather blind spots during tropical storms Irene and Lee. The NYS Mesonet was built to close those gaps by spacing sites about 17 miles apart.
“Over the last decade, the New York State Mesonet has grown into the most advanced and largest early-warning weather detection network in the nation, becoming an essential part of how New Yorkers prepare for and respond to hazardous weather,” said Chris Thorncroft, director of UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and executive director of the NYS Mesonet. “This landmark state investment will ensure we can continue to deliver the high-quality, real-time weather data that communities across the state rely on every day to protect lives and property.”
The NYS Mesonet’s first standard site, located in Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville, celebrated its 10th anniversary last August. The 127th site was completed in Lake Placid June 2024.
The Mesonet’s real-time weather data, various products and dashboards are available to the public on the Mesonet website.