Montgomery County has activated a new weather station in Laytonsville as part of an expansion intended to improve local weather monitoring and help emergency officials respond to severe storms, flooding, and other hazards.
The station, installed at the Oaks Landfill, went live on September 2 and marks the first locally funded extension of the Maryland Mesonet, a network of automated weather stations operated by the University of Maryland. Additional stations are planned for Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Chevy Chase/Silver Spring, with all three expected to come online by the end of the year.
An additional flood sensor will also be placed in Laytonsville to help first responders detect rising water at low-water crossings. According to the County, 40 flood sensors have already been installed across Montgomery County…