About us...
The North American Weather website was founded by Jack Ahern in May, 2008 as a home site and forum for the growing number of Affiliated Regional Weather Networks around the world. It provides a platform to run the global collection process for station data (for presentation on the global Google map) and to generate lists of member networks and tally an overall member station count.
History of the Affiliated Regional Weather Networks
The first Regional network (Southwestern aka "SWN") was founded by Chris Arndt San Luis Obispo, CA with Matt Pace Gold Canyon, AZ and Ken Capitola, CA in March, 2006, and by the end of that month, there were 7 stations in the network, including Las Vegas, NV, Tahoe Vista, CA, El Dorado Hills, CA, and Saratoga, CA.
The SWN started as a private forum where weather enthusiast members could meet and discuss topics of mutual interest. One of the topics of discussion what how to increase visibility of the member's personal weather websites in search engine rankings. The idea was to create a mesomap display with links to member websites would be a useful addition to our respective websites, and due to the member sites posting links to the other member sites, the search engine rankings would be improved. In late March, 2006, Matt started generating the first mesomap graphic and hand-made CSS/HTML to display rotating conditions on the graphic. Ken True (Saratoga, CA) created PHP scripts to automate the generation of the manual CSS/HTML. As more members joined the SWN, the original mesomap became sluggish as it would need to fetch conditions from each member site before displaying the mesomap. To fix the issue, a two-part function with a data collector running via cron on the network hub site, and a mesomap that would use/cache the collected data to dynamically generate the mesomap with rotating conditions for member sites was developed. This system became the primary method to collect data/display mesomap on the Affiliated Regional Weather Network websites.
In May, 2008 Jack Ahern (Stillweather.com) asked if the mesomap could be offered for the NorthEast and have a regional network set up there. The SWN members agreed, and so the Affiliated Regional Weather Network concept was born, and implementations began. From the 45 stations in the Southwestern Weather Network in May, 2008, the number has grown to 997 stations in affiliated networks worldwide as of Thu, 07-Nov-2024 23:06:04 UTC.
Here is the current cronological list of the networks:
- Southwestern Weather Network was founded in March, 2006 by Chris Arndt (San Luis Obispo, CA) with Matt Pace (Gold Canyon, AZ), Ken (Capitola, CA) and Ken True (Saratoga, CA).
- Northeastern Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Jack Ahern of Stillweather.com, Branford, Connecticut. In December, 2013, Ken True began hosting and administration for the website.
- North American Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Jack Ahern of Stillweather.com, Branford, Connecticut.
In November, 2013, Ken True began hosting and administration for the website. - Mid-Atlantic Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by John Harkness of Horsham Weather.
In July, 2009, Ken True began hosting and administration for the MAWN as John had to leave for personal reasons. - Midsouth Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Mike Berry of SoHiWeather. In April of 2015, Ken True began hosting and administration for the website as Mike had to leave for personal reasons.
- Northwest Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Mike Challis of Long Beach, WA Weather.
In Oct, 2008, Ken True began hosting and administration for the NWWN as Mike had to leave for personal reasons. - Southeastern Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Chris of CapeWeather.com. In October, 2021, Ken True began hosting for the SEWN.
- Nordic Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Henkka of www.nordicweather.net. In January of 2013, the Nordic network expanded coverage to become the European Weather Network.
- Plains Weather Network was founded in May of 2008 by Drew of OPWeather.com. In May, 2012, Ken True began hosting and administration for the PWN as Drew had to leave for personal reasons.
- Rocky Mountain Weather Network was founded in May, 2008 by Tony of ThorntonWeather.com.
- Scottish Weather Network was founded in May, 2008 by Martin Collins of Hebrides Weather, Eye Peninsula (Point), Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It discontinued operation 12-May-2023. Our thanks to Martin for his hosting/administration of the network.
- Midwestern Weather Network was founded in June of 2008 by Tim Hanko of www.thanko.info. In May, 2017, Ken True began hosting and administration for the MWWN as Tim had to leave for personal reasons.
- The original New Zealand Weather Network was founded in June of 2008 by Grant of www.nzweather.net and discontinued operation in June 2012.
- Australian Weather Network was founded in June of 2008 by Henk of Lyndhurst-Hill Weather in Queensland, Australia. In June, 2015, Henk had to discontinue hosting/administration of the AUWN and Ken True (saratoga-weather.org) assumed hosting for the network and Tony of Huon Valley, South Franklin, Tasmania assumed administration of the network.
In August, 2016, hosting and administration of the AUWN was assumed by Steven Wells of Potts Point Weather, in Sydney, NSW, Australia. - Alaskan Weather Network was founded in June of 2008 by Tim Hanko of www.thanko.info. In May, 2017, Ken True began hosting and administration for the AKWN as Tim had to leave for personal reasons.
- The original United Kingdom Weather Network was founded in June of 2008 by Grant of www.metserv.info and discontinued operation in October 2012.
- Irish Weather Network was founded in August of 2008 by Karl of Dublin Weather in Dublin, Ireland. The network was removed from the global collections in 2015 due to server data collection issues from the network.
- Namibia Weather Network was founded in October of 2008 by Jens of Windhoek Weather in Windhoek, Namibia.
- Canadian Atlantic Weather Network was founded in February of 2009 by Jim of HRMweather.com in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. In February of 2013, Ken True began hosting and administration for the CAWN as Jim had to leave for personal reasons.
- Italian Weather Network was founded in February of 2009 by Alessandro of Carmignano Weather in Carmignano (Po), Tuscany, Italy. It ceased operation in March, 2017.
- Quebec Weather Network was founded in April of 2009 by Michel Hébert of Météo Lanaudière, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Québec, Canada. In April of 2021, Ken True began hosting and administration for the CQWN as Michel had to leave for personal reasons.
- Bulgarian Weather Network was founded in July of 2009 by Radmil Pandev of Stamboliski Weather in Stamboliski, Bulgaria. The network ceased operation 22-Aug-2021 with the expiration of the bgweather.net domain.
- Hellas Meteo Network was founded in February of 2010 by Alexandros Stefanopoulos of Meteoarachova in Arachova, Greece.
- Hungarian Weather Network was founded in March of 2010 by Baranyi Attila of Meteo Kartal in Kartal, Hungary. In March, 2014, the hosting and administration was assumed by János Gincsai. In March, 2017 the Hungarian network discontinued operation as the DNS registration expired.
- Ontario Weather Network was founded in July of 2010 by Ann-Marie Keenan of Beamsville Weather Station in Lincoln, Ontario, Canada. In February, 2013, Ken True began administration for the COWN. In March, 2022, Ken True assumed hosting for the COWN.
- Argentina Weather Network was founded in July of 2010 by Diego Sala of Estación Meteorológica in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The network discontinued operation July 7, 2017.
- Poland Weather Network was founded in July of 2010 by Andrzej Czenczek of ASM Andretti - Zabrze Helenka in Zabrze, Poland. The DNS expired 21-Jul-2020 and the network is now offline.
- Benelux Weather Network was founded in July of 2010 by Peter Groeneveld of Meteo Leudal Limburg in Midden-Limburg, Netherlands. In June, 2018, Wim van der Kuil of Leuven Weather assumed administration and hosting for the Benelux network.
- Serbian Weather Network was founded in August 2010 by Radmil Pandev of Bulgarian Weather Network - BGWN in Stamboliski, Bulgaria. The network stopped operation on August 15, 2017 due to DNS registration expiration.
- French Weather Network was founded in August of 2010 by Dick Wismeijer of Bergerie Meteo, Montauroux, Var-Provence, France. In January, 2016 the network was transfered as the administrator had to leave for personal reasons. The FRWN is now hosted by Patrice of MétéoDaoulas in Daoulas, Finistère, France. The network was discontinued 15-Oct-2019 as the DNS for the server for reseaumeteofrance.fr was removed.
- Western Canada Weather Network was founded in September of 2010 by Blaine Carmichael of Calgary Weather Station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In March, 2014, Ken True began hosting and administration for the WCWN.
- Iberian Peninsula Weather Network was founded in October of 2010 by Emilio of Estación Meteorológica in Torrelavega, Cantabria, Spain. In July, 2023, Ken True began hosting and administration as meteoiberica.net became inoperable.
- Saskatchewan Weather Network was founded in February of 2011 by Blaine Carmichael of Calgary Weather Station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In March, 2014, Ken True began hosting and administration for the CSKWN.
- Manitoba Weather Network was founded in February of 2011 by Blaine Carmichael of Calgary Weather Station in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In March, 2014, Ken True began hosting and administration for the CMBWN.
- Romanian Weather Network was founded in February of 2012 by Radmil Pandev of Stambolijski Weather in Stamboliski, Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the domain expired for this network on 20-Feb-2017, so the network was removed from the global collection.
- New Zealand Local Weather Network was founded in March of 2012 by Alan of Kerikeri Weather and Jenny of Wairoa Weather.
- United Kingdom Weather Net was founded in October of 2012 by Martin Collins of Hebrides Weather. In April, 2024, Ken True began hosting and administration for the UKWN.
- Germany Weather Network was founded in November of 2012 by Stefan of Johanngeorgenstadt Weather. In October, 2018, Ken True began hosting and administration for the DEWN.
- Austria Weather Network was founded in December of 2012 by Thomas of Wetterstation Wien Favoriten.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Weather Network was founded in January of 2013 by Radmil Pandev of Bulgarian Weather Network - BGWN in Stamboliski, Bulgaria and Toma of Vremenska prognoza za Sarajevo in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, the domain expired 23-Jan-2017 so the network was removed from the global collection.
- Slovakia Weather Network was founded in February of 2104 by Marian of Amatérska meteorologická stanica EmsiWx in Bytèa, Slovakia.
- Slovenia Weather Network was founded in December of 2014 by Marko of Vremenska postaja Okroglo in Kal nad Kanalom, Primorska, Slovenia.
- Czech Republic Weather Network was founded in March of 2015 by Jachym of MeteoPage in Brno, Czech Republic.
- Portugal Weather Network was founded in January, 2020 by Luis of MeteoAlentejo in Portugal.
- Ireland Weather Network was founded again (absent since 2015) in June, 2022 by Sean of Renvyle Weather in Ireland.
If you have an interest in starting a Regional Weather Network for an area not currently covered, please contact Ken True.