NWS Receives Funding for River Gauges

The National Weather Service in the Southern Tier has received the funding it needs to accurately predict flooding. The National Weather Service uses stream gauges to provide the data necessary to predict flooding, particularly in the Susquehanna River. In recent months, officials were worried that the gauges in the Susquehanna River Basin would be shut down unless they were able to secure $215,000 to keep the gauges operational. Originally, the gauges were scheduled to shut off on March 1st, but that deadline was later extended to June 1st. On Monday, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will pay for the gauges through the end of this year. The administration will use funds from the $25 million given to them through the Sandy supplemental fund. The National Weather Service says that not only do the gauges allow for the best forecasting possible, but they could save lives and keep communities safe. The funding will affect 18 stream gauges and 16 rain gauges in and around the Susquehanna River Basin.