How the air and heat index temperatures are gathered for our live shows

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - A viewer recently emailed us asking how we get the air and heat index temperatures we display on the air. They wanted to also know how various surfaces vary in temperature. The current temperatures you see displayed on the air our gathered electronically from automated weather stations. There are two types. The automated weather observing system, or AWOS for short, and the automated surface observing systems or ASOS. The difference between the two? They are maintained by different agencies. These weather stations are usually found at airports or near cities or towns. Hence, how we can display the current temperatures on our map for about three dozen of the cities within our area.

As for heat index temperatures, these are derived by using the air temperature, humidity and wind speed measured by the weather station. The solutions are then sent electronically to our computer graphics which we then show to you on the air. Weather stations located within a city will register a much higher air temperature on a hot sunny summer day compared to one that is positioned just a few miles away out in the country. This is due to the greater amount of dark surfaces located in a city. This includes black top, paved roads and cement buildings. Dark objects absorb more of the sun’s solar heat than corn fields, wooded or grassy areas in rural areas.

Copyright 2023 KSNB. All rights reserved.