WKU News

Nelson County Emergency Management Director, Brad Metcalf (holding scissors), State Climatologist, Dr. Jerry Brotzge and numerous local, state and federal officials were on hand to cut the ribbon on the new Kentucky Mesonet site near Bardstown, Kentucky, Tuesday afternoon. Photo credit: Katelyn Norris, reporter with The Kentucky Standard 

The second Kentucky Mesonet site to be built in 2026 is now online, servicing the communities of Nelson County.  

County, state and federal officials, along with those from Western Kentucky University’s Ogden College of Science and Engineering, gathered at the site Tuesday afternoon to welcome the station to the Mesonet’s growing network. 

Located at the Nelson County Fairgrounds just southwest of Bardstown, this fully automated weather station, which measures parameters including temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, webcam imagery and more, was constructed over the summer and began collecting and archiving data in late August. In addition to the weather variables collected by instrumentation and sensors on the 10-meter tower, the site also takes in solar radiation values and includes probes that measure soil moisture and soil temperature at varying depths to 40 inches below the surface. Average five-minute data appears online via www.kymesonet.org and through the Mesonet app for iOS and Android.

Dr. Jerry Brotzge, Mesonet Director and State Climatologist, said that while long-term weather records for Nelson County date back to 1896, most weather variables beyond temperature and precipitation had yet to be measured, until now. “The Mesonet observations allow us to compare the present with the past, keeping us honest and true in our recollections. And from this history, we learn how past generations dealt with adversity and overcame once-in-a-generation heat and cold, floods and droughts. And from these lessons learned, we become more prepared and resilient in the future.”

Bardstown’s new weather station “also means more efficient energy production, better water management and new educational opportunities,” said Dr. Brotzge. 

Dr. David Brown, Dean of WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering, was also on hand to speak of how vital weather is to Bardstown’s economy, one that relies heavily on tourism.    

“Nelson County is home to some eleven distilleries,” Dr. Brown said, “all of which lie within a 30-mile radius of downtown Bardstown. Temperature, humidity and wind can alter the flavor, proof and color of distilled spirits.”

The new site also benefits the county’s extensive agricultural community. Farmers can use the site’s data for decision-making regarding planting and harvesting times, added Dr. Brown. 

Dr. Cathleen Webb, Associate Dean of Research at WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering, also spoke before attendees, emphasizing the network’s high standards for quality. 

“Staff meteorologists review numerical and visual data on a daily basis to monitor station performance,” Dr. Webb said. “That information is archived into a robust database of climate summaries for each county, making Kentucky Mesonet a reliable source of high-quality data.”

Brad Metcalf, head of Nelson County Emergency Management and site host, said the new weather station “helps make (warning) information much more real and much more precise for our area.” Metcalf was followed at the podium by State Senator Jimmy Higdon, who said the tower might look like just a collection of instruments, but its real purpose is “serving people, helping families, first responders and road crews make informed decisions when conditions turn dangerous.”

Also in attendance Tuesday was John Gordon, Mesonet Board Chairman, who stressed that past impactful events such as the tornadoes of April 3, 1974, and the floods of April 2025 serve to underscore the need for Nelson County’s site. Kevin Deitsch, meteorologist-in-charge of National Weather Service Louisville, also spoke at Tuesday’s event. 

Several state and federal dignitaries and representatives, including State Representative Candy Massaroni, Heidi Reutebuch, field representative for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and James Victery, field representative for U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie, also attended Tuesday’s ceremony. 

Since 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly has invested $1.75 million annually into Kentucky Mesonet. The funding helps to maintain and grow one of the nation’s most expansive weather networks. The network has a goal of establishing at least one station in all 120 counties in the Commonwealth.

About the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU: The Kentucky Mesonet at WKU is the Commonwealth’s official source for weather and climate data. The statewide network includes 88 stations in 82 counties. The Mesonet stations collect real-time data on air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, solar radiation, wind speed and direction and transmit it to the Kentucky Mesonet Operations Center at the WKU Innovation Campus every five minutes, 24 hours per day, throughout the year. The data are available online at www.kymesonet.org and via the Kentucky Mesonet app for mobile devices. Dr. Jerry Brotzge serves as Director of the Kentucky Mesonet at WKU and Kentucky Climate Center. The project was initially funded with a $2.9 million federal grant for the Kentucky Climate Center, part of WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program. The first station was installed at the WKU Farm in May 2007. In recent years, staff have been working to build a broad base of support across Kentucky to continue development and maintenance of the network. The 2022 biennial budget approved by the General Assembly added $1 million to the Kentucky Mesonet, bringing total state funding to $1,750,000 each year. 

Contact: Dr. Jerry Brotzge, (270) 745-4567

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