SAWRS

Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Stations Program

SAWRS defined - A facility where weather observations are taken, prepared, and transmitted by a local operator (NWS certified) under federal government supervision. A SAWRS is established at an airport (includes offshore platform's helipads) when the FAA has determined that the weather observations are needed to satisfy Federal Aviation Regulations 121 or 135, or for the safe conduct of other aircraft operations.

At present, NWS Lake Charles has 9 SAWRS located on oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. They are operated by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.(PHI), Air Logistics, Inc. (AL) and ERA Helicopters (ERA). We also have 5 inland sites.

OFFSHORE SITES

 Site Name           I.D.     Coords    Ops   Location from Land
East Cameron 345     KE12    28° 05" N  PHI  110 NM S of White Lake
                             92° 42" W
Eugene Island 330    K3B6    28° 13" N  AL   105 NM S of New Iberia
                             91° 41" W
High Island 264C     KH08    28° 28" N  AL   80 NM S of Cameron
                             93° 44" W
South Marsh 130      K7R8    28° 18" N  PHI  75 NM S of Marsh Island
                             91° 59" W
*South Timbalier 300 KS58    28° 09" N  PHI  85 NM S of Houma 
                             90° 43" W
West Cameron 560     KW60    28° 09" N  AL   100 NM S of Cameron
                             93° 21" W
Ship Shoal 207A      KGSM    28° 32" N  AL   65 NM S of Houma
                             90° 59" W
Green Canyon 184     KXCN    27° 46" N  ERA  115 NM S of Morgan City
                             91° 31" W
South Marsh 268A     KSRN    29° 07" N  AL   48 NM SSW of Morgan City
                             91° 52" W
Viosca Knoll 786     K7K1**  29° 13" N  AL   80 NM E of Boothville
                             87° 48" W 

* denotes responsibility of WFO New Orleans
** Product is in METAR code. Look for station K7K1 in coding.

Due to observation requirements, some observations in the tables may be several hours, and in some cases, days old.

**During tropical weather events in the gulf, these stations are extremely useful and greatly appreciated for their timely observations in dangerous weather situations in support of the National Weather Service and especially the National Hurricane Center.**

INLAND SITES

 Site Name             I.D.
Intracoastal City, La. K7R4
Sabine Pass, Tex.      KRPE
Amelia, La.            K7R3
Cameron, La.           K7R5
Chennault Field, La.   KCWF


Other Sites Across Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas

 Site Name                     I.D.
Fourchon, La.                  K9F2
Grand Isle, La.                KAXO
Venice (Boothville), La.       KVBE
Sugar Land, Tx.                KSGR
Ellington Field, Tex.          KEFD
Brazoria County Airport, Tex.  KLBX

 

The hydromet staffs duties are:

  1. The quality control of 2000+ observations per month to include documentation of errors for each station and mailing to NCDC.
  2. Sending supplies to each station.
  3. Station inspections ( twice yearly) and upkeep of station history.
  4. Responding to questions from the stations.

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This page was last updated on 5/29/04