Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations
FORT WORTH, Texas – Texas Motor Speedway has become the first motorsports venue in the country to install a WeatherSTEM weather station that will benefit its fans and the motorsports industry with comprehensive real-time weather data specific to that exact location.
WeatherSTEM has installed its weather units at more than 30 college facilities as well as Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, but the world-renowned venue in Fort Worth will be the first of its kind in the motorsports arena.
WeatherSTEM will produce the most accurate and up-to-the-minute data on any approaching inclement weather that will help allow the speedway to promptly inform fans and competitors on property, beginning with next week’s AAA Texas 500 NASCAR Playoffs tripleheader.
It also will help fans prepare for the various conditions or weather changes that are expected during the race weekend and allow them to dress more appropriately for the upcoming weather.
WeatherSTEM also can provide local media outlets, in particular the weather reports on the television affiliates during race week, the most accurate forecasts as related to the specific location of the venue.
The public data can be accessed via http://denton.weatherstem.com/txmotorspeedway and shared through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from the site. One can also receive texts with the latest Texas Motor Speedway weather updates or via e-mail.
The weather station, approximately 30 inches tall by 20 inches wide and located on the rooftop of the frontstretch grandstands, has the ability to record the following conditions in real time:
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Wind Speed/Direction
- Rainfall – Accumulation and Intensity
- Solar/UV Radiation
- Wind Chill
- Heat Index
- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
- Humidity
The system also displays a five-day hourly forecast, distance of the closest lightning activity through the ZapMap, SkyVideo time-lapse camera, live Cloud Camera, area radar and satellite, and historical data, among the various features.For b-roll of the WeatherSTEM unit including installation as well as some time-lapse examples from the speedway camera, click https://goo.gl/PC4nxm.
“We are beyond excited that Texas Motor Speedway is not only our first WeatherSTEM installation at a major race track, but our first in the state of Texas,” WeatherSTEM CEO and Founder Edward Mansouri said. “Spectators and race crew alike will benefit from the state-of -the-art in real-time weather monitoring. Also, through our partnership with STEAM Club Strategies, hundreds of interactive STEM lessons that incorporate data from the race track will be available to many students and teachers.”
WeatherSTEM partnered with Texas Motor Speedway through STEAM Club Strategies, which is serving as the presenting sponsor of the speedway’s Speeding To Read educational program. STEAM Club Strategies also will use this weather unit as an educational tool for all the schools participating in the Speeding To Read program through the 2018-19 school year.
The weather data can be accessed 365 days a year and readily available for any other major events on speedway property. Texas Motor Speedway plans on selling the naming rights to the WeatherSTEM unit in the near future.
The NASCAR Playoffs tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway will feature the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 on Friday, Nov. 2, Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 on Sunday, Nov. 4. For more information, please visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com.
