Barrington's Weather at Your Fingertips

You’ve probably noticed Barrington’s weather station on the roof of the library – the highest point in town. It’s actually your own personal weather station, too – really, it can be. 

For about two years now, the sensors on the roof have been keeping track of Barrington’s average daily wind speed and direction, the barometric pressure, the temperature, the solar intensity, and four other weather conditions.

The date is being compiled to answer questions that will help Barrington determine if it can come up with a viable source of renewable energy, such as a wind turbine or solar panels.

"We need to walk before we run," said Peter Clifford, a member of the Committee for Renewable Energy of Barrington (CREB) that placed the sensors on the rooftop about two years ago.

The sensors automatically collect data and send it to Onset Computer of Cape Cod, which gives Barrington a history of solar radiation, wind data, and other conditions, said Clifford.

For instance, data compiled so far indicates that the wind speed in Barrington is less than what was anticipated, he said. But the solar intensity is greater than you might think.

The real-time data is made available to anyone who wants it by accessing Onset’s website. You can click here and get the current conditions and the data for the past day, past week and past month.

Barrington needs reliable data before considering any renewable energy project, Clifford said. The data also can be useful to a homeowner or business operator who might be thinking about a small-scale wind turbine or solar panels to generate their own electricity. Teachers also have access to it through the Barrington Public Schools website.