New Weather Station Near Manchester Will Help Track Clay County’s Climate for Generations

Clay County is now home to a new state-of-the-art weather monitoring station that officials say will help document local weather patterns, improve forecasting, and preserve climate records for future generations. The Kentucky Mesonet — the Commonwealth’s official weather and climate monitoring network — formally christened its newest station, located about 10 miles east of Manchester, during a ceremony held Thursday afternoon at the Clay County Courthouse.

The Clay County Mesonet site, which first went online in March 2025, is the network’s 81st station and was made possible through a partnership involving the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Western Kentucky University’s Kentucky Climate Center, which operates Mesonet.

The project builds on years of research in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Six years ago, the partnering organizations began a multi-year effort to measure soil moisture across the region, deploying more than 30 sensors across several locations representing different terrain and environmental conditions.

An existing tower at the Redbird Ranger District near the community of Peabody has now been upgraded into a fully automated Mesonet station. Technicians equipped the site with advanced instruments that collect real-time data on air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and soil conditions. Solar panels power the system, while underground probes monitor soil moisture and temperature.

Dr. Jerry Brotzge, Director of Kentucky Mesonet and the State Climatologist, said the station will play an important role in documenting Clay County’s weather history.

“Mesonet data will forever define our community history,” Brotzge said. “This station will set records for heat and cold, wind, floods, and drought, preserving these events as part of the public record.”

Clay County Judge-Executive Tommy Harmon said the new station will provide valuable information for local emergency planning, agriculture, and infrastructure decisions.

“This is a great resource for Clay County,” Harmon said. “Having accurate, real-time weather data right here at home helps us better prepare for storms, flooding, and other challenges, and it gives our farmers and emergency responders the information they need to make informed decisions.”

Officials noted that long-term weather data helps communities better understand past events and prepare for future challenges.

“Weather records allow us to compare the present with the past, helping us learn from previous generations and become more resilient,” Brotzge added.

Beyond historical value, officials said the Mesonet system supports improved forecasts, earlier severe weather warnings, more efficient farming practices, safer travel, and better energy planning.

The ceremony hosted by Harmon drew local leaders and representatives from state and federal agencies, including Dustin Jordan, acting Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service office in Jackson, and Donna McClure, field representative for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.

Since 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly has allocated $1.75 million annually to support the Mesonet system, helping maintain and expand one of the nation’s most comprehensive statewide weather networks. The long-term goal is to establish at least one station in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

For Clay County residents, the new station represents more than just technology — it provides a local tool for understanding weather trends that affect farming, emergency planning, and daily life across the community.