Instrument observations, not model output. These records are also the reference against which the WRF forecasts are verified.
Current conditions
Live station readings
Refreshed hourly. Panel times are SAST.
Year-to-date trends
The same six records for the current calendar year, per station.
The mean of Pienaarskamp and Potch South. Wind is vector-averaged rather than averaged as compass degrees, so a northerly and a north-westerly do not average out to something southerly.
Temperature
Daily minimum, mean and maximum.
Rainfall
Daily total with the cumulative year-to-date curve.
Reference evapotranspiration
Penman reference ET, daily and cumulative.
Humidity
Relative humidity through the year.
Wind speed
Daily wind speed.
Solar radiation
Daily incoming shortwave energy.
Soil moisture
A single AquaCheck capacitance probe at Potchefstroom, reading moisture and temperature at 6 depths, with rainfall from Pienaarskamp plotted behind it.
Soil moisture by depth
Last 7 days
Scaled Frequency at each sensor, with daily rainfall behind it.
Soil moisture by depth
Since deployment
The full record, showing the wetting and drying cycles.
Moisture relative to maximum recorded
Since deployment
Each sensor against the wettest value it has recorded.
Soil temperature by depth
Last 7 days
Diurnal wave and its damping with depth.
Soil temperature by depth
Since deployment
Seasonal trend at each sensor.
The network
| Station | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lekwena | Single station | Co-located with the Lekwena C-band radar on the Lekwena Wildlife Estate outside Potchefstroom. |
| Metsi | Single station | NWU-operated station, reported under its own site name. |
| Pienaarskamp | Single station | One of the two stations in and around Potchefstroom. |
| Potch South | Single station | The second of the two stations in and around Potchefstroom. |
| Potchefstroom | Derived average | The mean of Pienaarskamp and Potch South. Wind is vector-averaged rather than averaged as compass degrees, so a northerly and a north-westerly do not average out to something southerly. |
What is measured
| Variable | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | °C | Air temperature at screen height. |
| Dew point | °C | |
| Relative humidity | % | |
| Wind speed and gust | m/s | With direction; vector-averaged. |
| Rainfall this hour | mm | |
| Rainfall today | mm | Midnight-to-present total. |
| Solar radiation | MJ/m² | Incoming shortwave energy over the hour. |
| Reference ET | mm | Penman reference evapotranspiration. |