A new advanced weather monitoring station for the Navajo Nation, located near Monument Valley, Utah will provide locally collected data to help ranchers, community leaders, emergency responders, water managers and others navigate drought, changing weather patterns and other climate-related challenges in the region.
The world-class monitoring station was unveiled on October 15, 2026, at an event in Monument Valley, with project partners providing remarks about the importance of science-based water management, drought response and the future of climate data programming.
“The installation of the new weather station in Monument Valley, in partnership with the Navajo Nation and the State of Utah, is another example of the commitment to use the best available science and data to help local communities adapt drought and aridity, and the continuing collaboration between Upper Basin Tribes and States,” said Chuck Cullom, executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
The Upper Colorado River Commission funded installation and O&M through 2029, through a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation, then the Utah Climate Center will take over funding. The station is part of the Utah Climate Center Mesonet network. The UCRC is also funding two weather stations on Navajo Nation lands in New Mexico. The New Mexico Climate Center is installing and operating those stations.
The weather station is a collaborative project of the Upper Colorado River Commission, Colorado River Authority of Utah, Utah State University Climate Center, Utah State University Extension, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Navajo Nation.
Photo Credit: Upper Colorado River Commission