PEMA Launches Enhanced Weather Monitoring & Alert System

On Wednesday, the Shapiro administration showcased improvements to the state's weather tracking and notification system, which also corresponds to a newly implemented K-12 educational program.

Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Randy Padfield, was present with representatives from the Greencastle-Antrim School District, Penn State University, the National Weather Service, and state lawmakers in Greencastle to demonstrate joint initiatives aimed at enhancing the Pennsylvania Integrated Flood Warning and Observation System (IFLOWS 2.0).

As stated in a news announcement, the IFLOWS 2.0 system will offer immediate weather updates and notification features for emergency responders, weather experts, and residents across the state via the Keystone Mesonet .

The initiative to enhance the IFLOWS 2.0 system is being carried out in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University. By August 2026, thirty additional weather monitoring stations will be set up across the state, with many located on educational institution premises. This enhancement aims to offer timely warnings, enabling the National Weather Service and disaster response officials to access crucial data for safeguarding citizens against extreme weather conditions and flood risks.

Flash floods are the primary natural danger within the Commonwealth, and improving detection along with issuing timely warnings are essential methods to avoid casualties," stated Padfield. "Upgrading the IFLOWS system will offer emergency officials and meteorologists earlier alerts about situations that could result in flooding or additional natural disasters, allowing the community more time to respond safely.

Thirty additional stations, referred to as the Pennsylvania Environmental Monitoring Network (PEMN), will expand Penn State's current system of 20 stations, resulting in a total of 50 weather sensors spread across 38 counties.

Additional meteorological information provided to the Keystone Mesonet by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of Delaware will enhance the PEMN.

At Penn State, we take pride in working alongside PEMA and our colleagues throughout the state on this significant initiative aimed at enhancing public safety and education via improved weather tracking," stated Dr. Paul Markowski, who serves as the Head of the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State University. "The Pennsylvania Environmental Monitoring Network reflects the core values of Penn State's land-grant purpose—using scientific knowledge and technological advancements to benefit our local areas. These weather stations not only boost Pennsylvania's ability to handle extreme weather conditions but also offer valuable learning experiences for K–12 students, allowing them to interact with live data right from their neighborhoods.

The rise in data collected from the latest sensors will assist the National Weather Service, which relies on up-to-the-minute information for issuing weather alerts.

Having quick access to dependable weather observations is crucial for the National Weather Service’s forecasting and alert procedures," stated Ashley Evans, the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service office in State College. "The real-time observation data supplied by these newly installed IFLOWS stations assists our meteorologists in delivering prompt information to issue alerts, allowing our collaborators and the general public to gain maximum advance notice to get ready, make informed choices, and carry out required actions to safeguard lives and assets against potential effects of any weather occurrence.

A K-12 weather educational program aligned with state standards is currently being created by the Greencastle-Anrim School District along with Pennsylvania State University. This resource, available at no cost to teachers in public, private, charter, and home schools across the state, incorporates meteorological information from Penn State’s IFLOWS 2.0 system to educate students on topics within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), integrating these subjects with practical, real-life scenarios.

We're very lucky to have one of these weather stations set up on our school grounds," stated Dr. Lura Hanks, superintendent of the Greencastle-Antrim School District. "Students will gain access to the same information used by meteorologists to analyze weather trends and will learn how various organizations collaborate to utilize this data in preparing for weather-related situations.

"we're thrilled to keep working as we develop our district's environmental education strategy, ensuring our students gain a thorough knowledge of our planet and the actions they can undertake to protect it," hanks stated.

"Offering students opportunities for practical education that have real-life uses helps them transition their studies from the classroom to their careers—and in this instance, from the classroom to the community," stated Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe.

"This distinctive initiative leverages teamwork and cooperation to support meteorologists and disaster management personnel, ensure the safety of Pennsylvania residents, and provide impactful, interactive educational experiences for students throughout the state," Rowe added.