About
Celina SkyWatch is an independent backyard weather station and weather-observation project based in Celina, Texas. The site combines local personal weather station data with official NOAA and National Weather Service reference products for better local situational awareness.
The project began as a practical way to learn weather observation, data publishing, storm awareness, radio monitoring, and local conditions in a more disciplined way. The goal is not to replace official sources. The goal is to build a useful local observation point and document the process honestly.
What This Site Provides
Current conditions from a personal station, including temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, pressure, and related measurements as available.
Radar, satellite imagery, and the Fort Worth / Dallas Area Forecast Discussion are included to keep the local observation data in proper regional context.
The site documents equipment, siting choices, known limitations, maintenance history, and future weather-radio or SKYWARN-related development.
What This Site Does Not Provide
Celina SkyWatch is not an official weather service, government agency, emergency management office, broadcast outlet, or public-warning authority.
- It does not issue watches, warnings, or advisories.
- It does not replace National Weather Service products.
- It does not provide emergency instructions.
- It does not guarantee instrument-grade or airport-grade observations.
- It should not be used as the sole source for safety decisions.
Why the Project Exists
North Texas weather can change quickly, and local conditions do not always feel identical to regional airport observations. A personal weather station can help show what is happening at one specific location, especially when paired with official radar, satellite, forecast discussions, and trained observation practices.
The broader goal is to build a small but serious local weather platform: first the weather station and website, then better documentation, then webcams or skycams, and eventually a responsible radio layer for NOAA Weather Radio monitoring, SKYWARN awareness, and possible amateur radio integration.
Data Quality Philosophy
Personal weather stations are useful, but they are only as credible as their siting, maintenance, and documentation. This site will document sensor placement, obstructions, mounting height, maintenance, and known limitations so the data can be interpreted honestly.
A backyard station can be locally valuable without pretending to be an official observing site. That distinction matters.
Official Weather Sources
For official weather information, use:
- National Weather Service Fort Worth / Dallas
- National Weather Service
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center
- National Hurricane Center
- NOAA Weather Radio and local emergency management sources
Project Roadmap
- Phase 1: Launch weather.stephenklahr.com and publish live personal station data.
- Phase 2: Add equipment photos, siting documentation, and maintenance notes.
- Phase 3: Add official-source context such as radar, satellite, and NWS forecast discussions.
- Phase 4: Add webcam or skycam capability after the weather data flow is stable.
- Phase 5: Develop the radio layer, including NOAA Weather Radio, scanner notes, SKYWARN awareness, and possible amateur radio integration.
- Phase 6: Evaluate higher-grade station hardware and external data-sharing networks.
Contact
This site is maintained as a personal weather-observation and learning project.
A public contact method may be added later. For now, the site is primarily a personal station documentation project.