Met Office puts new weather station cost at 7.3 million krónur

Installing a new weather station would cost 7.3 million krónur, including equipment and labour, while annual operating costs would be 1 million krónur, the Icelandic Meteorological Office told mbl.is.

The office is reviewing several issues related to last week’s storm, including a request from residents of Siglufjörður for a new wind gauge in the town. They say it should measure wind speeds better than the existing gauge at the airport, at the innermost end of the fjord.

Hildigunnur Thorsteinsson, director of the office, said data and operating costs had to be considered, and that finding a suitable spot in an urban area for measurements free from interference could be difficult. The office will nevertheless discuss the request with Siglufjörður residents.