Pierce College has a crucial task, it monitors the weather and climate history
“The ideal situation is to have the climate station be at the same spot for 75 years,150 years — because you know the data is going to be good,” meteorologist Joe Sirard of the National Weather Service said on Thursday, Nov. 14, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognized the Pierce College Weather Station for its contribution to weather monitoring, climate research and hands-on education at the college.
A gathering of fans celebrated the weather station’s 75th anniversary at the college in Woodland Hills. The weather station “is a key site for us because it shows you how hot it can be in this part of the (San Fernando) Valley, day in and day out, most days of the year,” Sirard said.
He noted that the all-time record high measured in Los Angeles County was 120 degrees on Sept. 6, 2020 at the Pierce College Weather Station during a massive heatwave.
Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of National Weather Service in Oxnard, on right, presents Travis Orloff, dept. chair of physics and planetary science at Pierce College, and Mary-Jo Apigo, v.p. of academic affairs, with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) award recognizing Pierce College Weather Station’s 75th anniversary and their contribution to weather monitoring, climate research, and hands-on education at the Woodland Hills college on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“The ideal situation is to have the climate station be at the same spot for 75 years, 150 years…because you know the data is going to be good,” says Meteorologist Joe Sirard, of the National Weather Service as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognizes the Pierce College Weather Station for its contribution to weather monitoring, climate research, and hands-on education as the Woodland Hills college celebrates the station’s 75th anniversary on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. “It’s a key site for us because it shows you how hot it can be in this part of the valley day in and day out most days of the year,” said Sirard. The site he said recorded the all-time record high for LA County on Sept. 6, 2020 at 120 degrees during a massive heatwave. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“The ideal situation is to have the climate station be at the same spot for 75 years, 150 years…because you know the data is going to be good,” says Meteorologist Joe Sirard, of the National Weather Service as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognizes the Pierce College Weather Station for its contribution to weather monitoring, climate research, and hands-on education as the Woodland Hills college celebrates the station’s 75th anniversary on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. “It’s a key site for us because it shows you how hot it can be in this part of the valley day in and day out most days of the year,” said Sirard. The site he said recorded the all-time record high for LA County on Sept. 6, 2020 at 120 degrees during a massive heatwave. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge of National Weather Service in Oxnard, on right, presents Travis Orloff, dept. chair of physics and planetary science at Pierce College, and Mary-Jo Apigo, v.p. of academic affairs, with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) award recognizing Pierce College Weather Station’s 75th anniversary and their contribution to weather monitoring, climate research, and hands-on education at the Woodland Hills college on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Since 1949, the Pierce College Weather Station has been a key part of Southern California climate history, capturing data that shows the evolving environment. College officials said that starting from early paper records to automated systems today, the station has served as both a public service and an educational resource.
In a prepared statement Pierce College officials said, “This isn’t just a weather station; it’s a time capsule, capturing everything from record-breaking heatwaves to shifting rainfall patterns—essential data that shows how our climate is changing” in Los Angeles.