Frankston Automatic Weather Station shares Ballam Park’s weather with the world!

Published on 13 July 2020

If you have taken a stroll through Ballam Park lately you might have noticed it is home to a new Bureau of Meteorology weather station.

The Frankston Automatic Weather Station is the latest in the Bureau’s global network of 720 weather stations, which it uses to record, monitor and forecast the weather.

The Bureau shares data collected from stations across Australia, its offshore islands and Antarctica with weather agencies around the globe.

Frankston City Mayor, Sandra Mayer, said the station would ensure locals had access to weather data representative of Frankston’s unique climate.

“Observations from the Bureau’s network of stations are used to help create weather forecasts many days in advance and our community relies on these predictions to conduct business and in their everyday lives.

“We are so pleased that Ballam Park is home to this new station which will measure rainfall, humidity, air pressure, temperature, wind direction and wind speed.

“Next time you check your weather app or the local weather report, just think – the data probably came from Ballam Park!”

Cr Mayer added that data collected from the station would contribute to historical logs outlining long-term weather patterns and changes.

“We declared a climate emergency last year and being armed with accurate information about how the local weather is changing is integral to our plans to prepare and protect our community.”

The Bureau’s Regional Manager Hazard Preparedness South, Simon McCulloch, said the new weather station would complement the existing foreshore station.

“It's really great that we have a new weather station in the heart of the Frankston community; it is much more representative of the wider Frankston area due to the fact it is located inland rather than at the foreshore.

“The existing station will continue to provide wind observations which represent bayside conditions and will continue to be important to local maritime users.

“Weather data from stations like Ballam Park are important as they feed into the global network of observations which helps us provide better weather forecasts.”

The Frankston Automatic Weather Station is a joint project between the Bureau of Meteorology and Frankston City Council. Click here to check Frankston’s weather from anywhere in the world.