ARCOS Weather System Back Online, Upgraded

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala — The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) has announced that its marine weather center is back online with an upgrade. The infrastructure of the Alabama Real-Time Coastal Observing System (ARCOS), including 13 weather stations with eight managed by DISL, was damaged during Hurricane Sally in 2020. These stations provide marine weather information to those interested in current and historical conditions in Mobile Bay. The ARCOS technical team, supported by the Alabama Center of Excellence, has restored the network to pre-Hurricane Sally levels with a new, user-friendly interface. Responsive and interactive graphs plot live data with updates every 30 min. These include air and water temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and current salinity levels. ARCOS was brought online in 2003 to collect real-time data at weather stations placed in and around Mobile Bay. DISL says this information assists in forming effective strategies when faced with disasters, enhancing the economy and protecting the environment.