A mesonet - short for mesoscale network - is a collection of professional weather stations with closer spacing and more frequent reporting that characterizes fine scale, dynamic weather. South Dakota State University's Mesonet is used by the general public, agriculture, public safety, the National Weather Service and researchers.

The Mesonet is in the midst of a $12.8M, multi-year project funded by the Army Corps of Engineers and the NOAA Mesonet Program to upgrade, install and deliver data from mesonet stations to improve operational monitoring of flood and drought conditions.

The newest generation Mesonet station is centered around a 33-foot tall tower that sits on an acre of land. Over 150 new or upgraded stations will be installed statewide putting nearly every South Dakotan within 20 miles of a station. They are solar-powered and cellular-connected, and are maintained and calibrated by professional technicians. The data available to the public via our website is streamed to the National Weather Service, the Corps of Engineers, and others for user in making operational products; and is archived for research use. Mesonet data is updated every five minutes.

The Mesonet is seeking public and private landowners to host new stations.