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National Surface Meteorological Networks
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) - The National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense operate this network of 967 stations located throughout the United States [Illinois (17), Indiana (12), Iowa (15), Michigan (26), Minnesota (15), Nebraska (17), North Dakota (9), South Dakota (16), Wisconsin (17)]. The data generally available from ASOS stations includes hourly (and special) observations of air temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, visibility, present weather, and precipitation. The hourly and special observations are included within many data archives. Additionally, data with up to one minute temporal resolution can be obtained from the ASOS stations via modem (password required for access). The most recent 12 hours of 1-minute observations are kept at the stations. For further information on the ASOS network visit the NWS ASOS home page or the FAA Automated Sensors home page.
Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) - The FAA and various state agencies (particularly Aviation Divisions of state Departments of Transportation) operate this network of 1046 stations located throughout the United States [Illinois (38), Indiana (30), Iowa (39), Michigan (42), Minnesota (80), Nebraska (18), North Dakota (4), South Dakota (3), Wisconsin (33)] Data from 634 of these stations are available within many data archives [Illinois (38), Indiana (3), Iowa (39), Michigan (40), Minnesota (78), Nebraska (18), North Dakota (2), South Dakota (2), Wisconsin (33)] The data from the other 412 stations [Illinois (0), Indiana (27), Iowa (0), Michigan (2), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (0), North Dakota (2), South Dakota (1), Wisconsin (0)] are currently only available via modem (typically the most recent ~3 weeks of observations are kept at the stations). These stations typically provide 20-minute observations of air temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, visibility, altimeter setting, present weather and precipitation. For further information on the AWOS network visit the FAA Automated Sensors home page.
Automated Weather Sensor System (AWSS) - The AWSS is part of the AWOS network suite of programs and provides pilots and other users with all the weather information provided by AWOS using the latest technology. The basis of the AWSS is purchasing commercial off-the-shelf equipment. There are currently 10 AWSS stations located throughout the United States [Illinois (1), Indiana (0), Iowa (0), Michigan (0), Minnesota (0), Nebraska (0), North Dakota (0), South Dakota (0), Wisconsin (0)]. These stations typically provide hourly observations of air temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, visibility, altimeter setting, present weather and precipitation. For further information on the AWSS network visit the FAA AWSS home page.
United States Climate Reference Network (USCRN) - NOAA operates the USCRN, a network of climate stations developed primariliy to provide long-term homogeneous observations of temperature and precipitation that can be coupled to long-term historical observations for the detection and attribution of present and future climate change. The program is managed and coordinated by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). There are 76 CRN stations located located throughout the United States [Illinois (2), Indiana (0), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (4), North Dakota (1), South Dakota (2), Wisconsin (1)] The primary measurements at these stations include air temperature and precipitation at hourly intervals. The secondary measurements include infrared ground surface temperature, solar radiation and wind speed. For further information visit the USCRN home page.
Other METAR Reports - In addition to the ASOS and AWOS there are still a number of stations where the observations are taken manually. There are 216 such observation locations located throughout the United States [Illinois (4), Indiana (5), Iowa (0), Michigan (1), Minnesota (0), Nebraska (1), North Dakota (2), South Dakota (2), Wisconsin (2)]. A large proportion of these observations are limited in some fashion (e.g. no observations at night or just one or two observations in a day). The parameters available vary from station to station, but most provide air temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, and present weather.
NOAA/NWS Cooperative Observer Program - The NOAA/National Weather Service oversees this network with 11831 participating cooperative observers located throughout the United States [Illinois (331), Indiana (224), Iowa (386), Michigan (344), Minnesota (268), Nebraska (369), North Dakota (184), South Dakota (238), Wisconsin (269)]. This network provides daily observations (7am local time) of maximum and minimum air temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and snow depth. Some stations also provide soil temperature, evaporation, and wind run. These data are archived at NOAA/NCDC. For further information visit the NOAA/NWS Cooperative Observer Program home page.
Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) - This 'network' is comprised of weather stations operated by the general public and reported by amateur radio operators around the world. All observations are collected by the NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory (NOAA/FSL) and are included as part of their Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS). The network varies greatly in terms of data quality and completeness. Within the United States there are 3100 reporting stations [Illinois (45), Indiana (47), Iowa (27), Michigan (39), Minnesota (45), Nebraska (31), North Dakota (13), South Dakota (6), Wisconsin (40)]. The parameters reported vary by station, but typically include air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, and precipitation. For further information visit the CWOP home page.
Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) Network - The United States Forest Service oversees this network of stations owned and operated by state and local wildland fire agencies. The network typically provides hourly values of air temperature, dew point, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, fuel temperature, and fuel moisture. The network consists of 1795 stations located throughout the United States [Illinois (4), Indiana (4), Iowa (7), Michigan (28), Minnesota (34), Nebraska (9), North Dakota (15), South Dakota (21), Wisconsin (25)], but heavily concentrated in the forested areas of the western mountains. These data are included within the University of Utah MesoWest and the NOAA/FSL MADIS data sets. For further information visit the USFS RAWS home page. Data archives are available from the Western Regional Climate Center RAWS USA Climate Archive.
Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) - The NOAA Office of Hydrologic Development operates the HADS real-time data aquisition and data distribution system. HADS collects data from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) operated by a number of federal, state, and local agencies throughout the US and a few nearby countries. The network currently includes 11970 observation locations [Illinois (123), Indiana (147), Iowa (174), Michigan (37), Minnesota (209), Nebraska (188), North Dakota (110), South Dakota (185), Wisconsin (54)]. The temporal resolution and parameters collected vary widely by network and station but can include a variety of meteorological and hydrologic parameters. For further information visit the NWS HADS page.
Parks Research and Intensive Monitoring of Ecosystems Network (PRIMENET) - PRIMENET is a joint Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service program to assess the effects of environmental stressors on ecological systems nation wide. The network includes 14 monitoring and research sites at National Parks throughout the US [Illinois (0), Indiana (0), Iowa (0), Michigan (0), Minnesota (0), Nebraska (0), North Dakota (1), South Dakota (0), Wisconsin (0)]. Each site has a meteorological station that provides hourly observations of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, precpitation, and soil temperature. For further information visit the PRIMENET Home page.	No map.
Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network - The LTER network was set up by the National Science Foundation to allow investigation of ecological processes at long time scales and over broad spatial scales. Each of the 19 [Illinois (0), Indiana (0), Iowa (0), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (0), North Dakota (0), South Dakota (0), Wisconsin (1)] LTER sites typically has at least one automated surface meteorological station. Many also have several meteorological stations, precipitation networks, and/or flux towers. The LTER site in Michigan is the Kellogg Biological Research Station, in Minnesota it's the Cedar Creek Natural History Area LTER and in Wisconsin it's the North Temperate Lakes LTER. For further information visit the LTER home page or the Kellogg Biological Research Station LTER home page, the Cedar Creek Natural History Area LTER home page, or the North Temperate Lakes LTER home page.