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Station coordinates

34° 10' 55" North Latitude
118° 34' 29" West Longitude
790' (240.8 m) Above Mean Sea Level
Modified Köppen Classification Climate Type:  Csa

NOTE: Regarding data displayed on our Current & 10-minute data page, and two 24-hour data pages: All times are local times -- PST during PST and PDT during PDT (this includes time changes due to acts of Congress)

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~ Temperature and precipitation archives updated through July 31, 2009 ~

Coming in 2010: Get ready for a whole new world of data collected from one of Los Angeles' only online real-time Net Radiometers, non-ASOS Present Weather sensor, Fuel Temperature sensor (Fire Weather), Leaf Wetness sensor, Ultrasonic Wind Velocity sensor, and major upgrades to other sensors we're currently using. Dr. William Patzert from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena was once quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "[The Pierce College Weather Station] is the Rolls Royce of weather stations."  If we're the Rolls Royce now, we'll be the Space Shuttle by this time next year! 

e-mails: Due to the large volume of e-mails I've been getting from the NWS and others regarding two major grant projects I'm directing, I have been falling behind on responding to your e-mails regarding questions and comments on weather and our weather station. Thank you for your e-mails, I read them all, but just don't have time to respond to each and every one. -Steve

Congressman Brad Sherman Obtains $85,000 for Weather Station
We are pleased to announce that Congressman Brad Sherman has obtained an $85,000 grant through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to upgrade and expand the Pierce College Weather Station! 

This award will provide the station’s local, state, national & international audiences with a plethora of real-time high-quality atmospheric data. We will expand our sensor array to include fire weather data as well as transpiration rates.

Congressman Sherman and Michael Tou, Policy Director for the congressman, have taken keen interest in the growing threat of global climate change and the impact such change will have on communities both here and around the globe.  

As leaders of our community, a community which is home to one the world’s oldest and most consistent weather stations, they have foreseen the great potential of the Pierce College Weather Station as a premium source of invaluable meteorological and climate data.

One of the keys to understanding and preserving the environment begins with accurate data collection of a wide variety of variable and observing changes over time.  In addition to upgrades of station equipment, sensors and additional sensor arrays, the NOAA grant allows our faculty to develop curriculum meeting K-12 science standards to enhance educational field trips from over 100 local K-12 schools.  The intent is to encourage young people to develop a genuine interest in knowledge, data-driven research, and scientific inquiry.

Pierce College’s students, faculty, staff and I would like to thank Congressman Brad Sherman for this very important and well received grant and the great benefit it will have on our communities both in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

-Steve Woodruff, 30 July 2009

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Photos I've taken of our alcohol minimum thermometers were used by the National Geographic for their show, "The Science of Winter" which aired on the National Geographic Channel in February 2007.

L.A. PIERCE COLLEGE ON THE BIG SCREEN!
I loaned some weather sensors and shelters that belong to me that I've used here at Pierce College that were used as set dressing in the Adam Sandler movie titled, "You Don't Mess with the Zohan".

TELEVISION COMMERCIAL SHOOT
I also used wind sensors loaned to him by fellow climatologist, William T. Reid, along with my own equipment to determine wind speeds for a Toyota truck commercial shoot out in Barstow, California. These measurements were used to calibrate 8-foot diameter industrial fans that were used in a stunt. A special thanks to Certified Weather Observer, Jamie Stern, for her help on the project!

VOICE MODEM
Weather Station Voice Modem: (818) 710-3393
Provides current* weather information.

CURRENT & 10-MINUTE DATA
Data shown on our Current & 10-minute Data page updates every 10-minutes.
Note: Precipitation totals reset to zero after each 10-minute observation. All other observations are averages taken over their respective 10-minute period.

24-HOUR DATA (4pm)
This is data that are collected from 4pm to 4pm local time each day. The extreme temperatures are displayed along with precipitation totals for that time period. These data strings update at 4:01pm local time daily.

24-HOUR DATA (12am)
This is data that are collected from midnight to midnight local time each day. The extreme temperatures are displayed along with precipitation totals for that time period. These data strings update at 12:01am local time daily.

Cumulus humilis over the San Fernando Valley, California.

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Current' data provided over the phone is 5-seconds delayed.