The data is collected by remote weather stations, powered by solar energy.

Fifteen minutes past each hour, a computer sends a request by wireless phone to the weather stations and receives data. At 30 minutes past each hour, the computer program assembles this data into tables and posts it on this Web site.

Because the hourly data represents the entire hour, it is not posted until 90 minutes after the hour listed. (For example, the 2:00 data is for 2:00 until 2:59, so it is not posted until 3:30). Annual, monthly, and daily summations are posted at 3:00 a.m. each night.

The Southgate station is only contacted once daily just past midnight, so today's weather is not available.

Why is the data not current?

Occasionally, problems caused by lightning, power outages, or phone troubles will delay the posting of the data. Often, these problems will correct themselves as the resources come back online.