What is Baron Critical Weather Institute?
The Baron Critical Weather Institute (Baron Institute) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Alabama to provide world-class instruments for public safety, educational outreach, and economic development.
Many entities across Alabama, including the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), the Emergency Management Association (EMA), 911 services, and weather providers, require access to high-quality weather data. Recognizing the critical need for information sharing among these entities, the Baron Institute was created.
The Baron Institute is dedicated to creating a statewide, high-density, real-time weather data network known as WeatherNet. This network will offer high-definition camera feeds and comprehensive weather information, including real-time updates on temperature, air pressure, wind speed, lightning detection, rainfall, UV and solar radiation, air density, and humidity, refreshing every 10 seconds and ultimately covering every mile of the sky across the state.
Alabama offers a diverse environment for weather research, particularly in transportation, boasting more navigable waterways than any other state. Its landscape varies from subtropical beaches to near-tundra mountains, showcasing weather patterns ranging from hurricanes to winter storms. The Baron Institute recognizes the importance of current weather data for economic development—including manufacturing, goods transport, and farming—through “WeatherNet.”
The Baron Institute has partnered with the Engineering Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and Cullman High School to design, develop, and produce our weather stations for “WeatherNet.” This collaboration offers students valuable opportunities to acquire essential STEM skills and gain real-world experience. With the newly opened “How We Know the Weather” exhibit, the Baron Institute engages learners of all ages to explore and interact with the fascinating world of weather science.