It reports just like an ASOS, but only SPECIs are being sent. I have seen
this before
w/ test or temporary sites. I recall some years ago for a time the
Sterling Test
Facility was sending RAOB, so this may be similar. I can ask WFO LWX.
Boris
On Tue, Oct 13, 2026 at 11:35 AM Tyle, Kevin R <ktyle@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I asked my (dis)obedient (overlord) servant, ChatGPT:
>
> The following are a series of special METAR observations from a US-based
> site. The station identifier (KST1) has been reported to be near Topeka KS
> but the observations are not consistent with stations near Topeka, so I
> believe this site is located elsewhere. Given the sequence of observations,
> where might this station possibly be if you compare it with other
> meteorological stations METAR reports from today?
>
> SPECI KST1 110842Z AUTO 08007KT 7SM -RA BKN010 BKN022 OVC046 16/14
> SPECI KST1 110851Z AUTO 09007KT 5SM RA BR SCT008 BKN012 OVC045 15/14
> SPECI KST1 110939Z AUTO 08011KT 4SM RA BR BKN009 BKN014 OVC022 15/14
> SPECI KST1 110952Z AUTO 07009KT 4SM RA BR BKN010 OVC015 15/14 A3018
> SPECI KST1 111003Z AUTO 08010KT 4SM RA BR SCT007 OVC012 15/14 A3017
> SPECI KST1 111012Z AUTO 10009G17KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR BKN009 OVC013
> SPECI KST1 111029Z AUTO 07005KT 3SM RA BR BKN009 OVC012 15/14 A3018
> SPECI KST1 111049Z AUTO 08007KT 2 1/2SM RA BR BKN008 OVC012 15/15
> SPECI KST1 111117Z AUTO 06007KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC014 16/15 A3017
> SPECI KST1 111218Z AUTO 08007KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR BKN008 OVC013 16/15
> SPECI KST1 111232Z AUTO 07007KT 1 1/4SM +RA BR SCT006 BKN013 OVC022
> SPECI KST1 111246Z AUTO 04007KT 3SM RA BR SCT007 BKN012 OVC021 16/16
> SPECI KST1 111307Z AUTO 05008KT 1 1/4SM +RA BR SCT005 BKN009 OVC022
> SPECI KST1 111327Z AUTO 05006KT 3SM -RA BR BKN005 OVC011 15/15 A3013
> SPECI KST1 111337Z AUTO 07009KT 2SM RA BR BKN005 BKN011 OVC022 16/15
> SPECI KST1 111351Z AUTO 05008KT 5SM -RA BR BKN005 OVC014 16/15 A3012
> SPECI KST1 111431Z AUTO 07009G19KT 2 1/2SM RA BR SCT006 BKN009
> SPECI KST1 111440Z AUTO 07011G16KT 3SM -RA BR BKN006 BKN012 OVC025
> SPECI KST1 111519Z AUTO 08011KT 3SM -RA BR BKN010 OVC015 16/16 A3006
> SPECI KST1 111526Z AUTO 08009G17KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC015 16/16
> SPECI KST1 111751Z AUTO 07007KT 2SM +RA BR OVC008 17/16 A2995 RMK
> SPECI KST1 111908Z AUTO 02009KT 1 1/4SM BR OVC005 17/16 A2991 RMK
> SPECI KST1 111934Z AUTO 02009KT 3SM -RA BR OVC005 16/16 A2991 RMK
> SPECI KST1 111949Z AUTO 02009KT 3SM BR OVC004 16/15 A2990 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 112024Z AUTO 02010KT 3SM BR OVC005 16/15 A2989 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 112107Z AUTO 04008KT 4SM BR OVC005 16/15 A2986 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 112121Z AUTO 04010KT 1 3/4SM +RA BR OVC005 16/15 A2986
> SPECI KST1 112131Z AUTO 04009KT 3SM RA BR BKN005 BKN009 OVC016 16/15
> SPECI KST1 120326Z AUTO 03008KT 9SM SCT007 OVC011 16/16 A2977 RMK
> SPECI KST1 120341Z AUTO 03009KT 7SM BKN007 OVC012 16/16 A2976 RMK
> SPECI KST1 120509Z AUTO 02009KT 2SM +RA BR BKN008 OVC025 16/15 A2974
> SPECI KST1 120524Z AUTO 04011G18KT 3SM +RA BR SCT008 BKN015 OVC025
> SPECI KST1 120553Z AUTO VRB06KT 2 1/2SM +RA BR FEW011 OVC020 16/15
> SPECI KST1 120626Z AUTO 04009KT 10SM -RA BKN011 BKN020 OVC025 16/14
> SPECI KST1 120648Z AUTO 03008KT 10SM -RA OVC009 15/14 A2975 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 120722Z AUTO 02010KT 5SM RA BR BKN010 OVC015 16/14 A2976
> SPECI KST1 120730Z AUTO 02010KT 4SM +RA BR FEW008 SCT012 OVC017
> SPECI KST1 120925Z AUTO 04009KT 10SM SCT012 OVC040 16/14 A2980 RMK
> SPECI KST1 120951Z AUTO 02010KT 10SM BKN017 OVC038 16/14 A2982 RMK
> SPECI KST1 121029Z AUTO 01010G18KT 10SM SCT017 OVC043 16/14 A2983
> SPECI KST1 121437Z AUTO 01011G19KT 10SM BKN028 19/14 A2991 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130602Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM BR CLR 13/13 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130611Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 12/12 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130631Z AUTO 00000KT 2 1/2SM BR CLR 12/12 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130638Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/13 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130653Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM BR CLR 13/13 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130704Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 12/12 A2997 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130712Z AUTO 00000KT 1 1/2SM BR CLR 12/12 A2997 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130723Z AUTO 31003KT 1/2SM FG CLR 11/11 A2997 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130732Z AUTO 29003KT 2SM BR CLR 12/12 A2997 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130739Z AUTO 28003KT 10SM CLR 13/13 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130844Z AUTO 00000KT 1 3/4SM BR CLR 10/10 A2996 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130914Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 11/11 A2998 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130927Z AUTO 00000KT 1SM BR CLR 11/11 A2998 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130934Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 10/10 A2998 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 130952Z AUTO 00000KT 1/2SM FG VV001 11/11 A2999 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 131019Z AUTO 00000KT 1SM BR CLR 10/10 A2999 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 131031Z AUTO 00000KT 1/2SM FG VV002 10/10 A2999 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 131040Z AUTO 00000KT 1 1/4SM BR FEW002 10/10 A3000 RMK
> SPECI KST1 131044Z AUTO 00000KT 3SM BR FEW002 11/11 A3000 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 131134Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 11/11 A3001 RMK AO2
> SPECI KST1 131143Z AUTO 00000KT 2 1/2SM BR CLR 11/11 A3001 RMK AO2
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sterling, Virginia, near Washington Dulles Airport, is the strongest
> match-specifically the National Weather Service's Sterling Field Support
> Center ASOS test site. There is direct documentary evidence: an NWS
> technical report, page 89, explicitly identifies "KST1 ASOS at SFSC,
> Virginia." The center's address is 43741 Weather Service Road, Sterling, VA.
> Assuming your reports are from October 11-13, 2026, nearby observations
> support that identification:
> Station and UTC time on October 13 Wind Temperature/dew point
> Altimeter Visibility/sky
> Your KST1, 0952 Calm 11/11°C 29.99 ½ mile, fog, VV001
> Dulles KIAD, 0952 Calm 11/11°C 30.00 10 miles, clear
> Leesburg KJYO, 0955 Calm 12/12°C 30.01 10 miles, clear
>
>
> Dulles observations and Leesburg observations show nearly identical
> temperature, saturation, wind, and pressure. The visibility difference is
> compatible with localized radiation fog; your sensor repeatedly switches
> between fog and clear visibility within minutes.
> The preceding weather also fits: Dulles recorded 1.92 inches of rain in
> the 24 hours ending October 12 at 1152 UTC, followed by improving
> conditions and overnight cooling. That agrees with your prolonged rain,
> clearing, and subsequent fog sequence. NWS Dulles summary
> Topeka looks substantially different: early October 12, KTOP reported
> approximately 24-25°C with southerly winds, while your station had 15-16°C,
> northeasterly winds, and heavy rain. NWS Topeka observations
> The Topeka attribution may stem from an identifier collision: NOAA's
> geodetic inventory lists KST1 as a decommissioned "TOPEKA 1" GPS reference
> station. That is a separate observing network. NOAA CORS inventory
> My confidence is high in the Sterling identification. The nearby weather
> comparison supports it, and the NWS document directly associates that
> identifier with the Sterling test facility; I did not obtain a complete
> neighboring METAR archive for every timestamp in your sequence.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Best regards,
>
> Kevin
>
> _________________________________________________
> Kevin Tyle, M.S.; Manager of Departmental Computing
> NSF ACCESS Campus Champion
> Dept. of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences
> UAlbany ETEC Bldg - Harriman Campus
> 1220 Washington Ave, Room 419
> Albany, NY 12226
> ktyle@xxxxxxxxxx | 518-442-4578 <(518)%20442-4578> | @nywxguy | he/him/his
> _________________________________________________
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: data-curation <data-curation-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
> Herzmann, Daryl E [AGRON]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 6:42 AM
> To: data-curation <data-curation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [data-curation] KST1 ?
>
> Greetings,
>
> Anybody have ideas on who KST1 is?
>
> SPXX99 KWBC 130704
> SPECI KST1 130704Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR CLR 12/12 A2997 RMK AO2
> T01170117 TSNO $
>
> and as an aside, always be careful not to point your METAR ingest at too
> wide of WMO headers. This one from the West Texas Mesonet is full of K***
> IDs, including KST1 :)
>
> AXUS44 KLUB 130706
> MISWTM
> METAR KARS 130650Z 18008KT 22/19 A2998 RMK A01 T02150187 SLP103 RH84%
> DA4800 METAR KAB1 130650Z 17008KT 26/21 A2992 RMK A01 T02600206 SLP102
> RH72% DA3400 ...snipped...
> METAR KST1 130650Z 17012KT 24/19 A2995 RMK A01 T02420191 SLP097 RH73%
> DA4400
>
> dary;
> _________________________________________________________
> NOTE: All exchanges posted to NSF Unidata maintained email lists are made
> publicly available through the web. Users who post to any of the lists we
> maintain are reminded to remove any personal information that they do not
> want to be made public.
>
> NSF Unidata data-curation Mailing List
> (data-curation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
> For list information, to unsubscribe, or change your membership options,
> visit: https://mailinglists.unidata.ucar.edu/listinfo/data-curation/
>
> _________________________________________________________
> NOTE: All exchanges posted to NSF Unidata maintained email lists are
> made publicly available through the web. Users who post to any of the
> lists we maintain are reminded to remove any personal information that
> they do not want to be made public.
>
> NSF Unidata data-curation Mailing List
> (data-curation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
> For list information, to unsubscribe, or change your membership options,
> visit: https://mailinglists.unidata.ucar.edu/listinfo/data-curation/
>