LAWTON, OK — A new private-public partnership is set to bring advanced flood monitoring to one of Lawton’s most vulnerable waterways. The City of Lawton is currently reviewing a proposal to authorize the installation of a state-of-the-art CyclonePort weather station on the city right-of-way along East Rogers Lane.
The project is a collaboration between Texoma Weather Lab, operated by local meteorologist Austin Bowling, and Georgia-based SDS Weather.
Bridging a Critical Safety Gap
For years, the monitoring of East Cache Creek has been a manual and often dangerous task. According to Austin Bowling, the existing water level sensor near Lawton has been out of commission for several years. Currently, city staff must physically travel to the creek to check levels during heavy rain events.
The new CyclonePort station will be installed just downstream of the confluence of East Cache Creek and Medicine Creek. This location is vital for providing early warnings to residents in flood-prone neighborhoods, including Turtle Creek, Garden Village, and Heritage.
The Tech Stack: Monitoring vs. Surveillance
The CyclonePort unit is a compact, high-precision weather tower. Unlike the city’s Flock Safety cameras—which are designed for law enforcement and automated license plate recognition (ALPR)—the CyclonePort is focused entirely on environmental safety and transparency.
| Feature | CyclonePort (Weather/Flood) | Flock Safety (Police/ALPR) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Environmental Safety & Flood Monitoring | Crime Detection & Vehicle Tracking |
| Key Sensors | Anemometer, Rain Gauge, PTZ Camera, Temp/Humidity | High-speed ALPR specialized cameras |
| Data Access | Open: Publicly visible via Texoma Weather Lab and RadarOmega | Closed: Restricted to Law Enforcement and City Officials |
| Funding | $0 (Privately donated and maintained) | Subscription-based (Taxpayer-funded) |
About Texoma Weather Lab
As an independent meteorologist, Austin Bowling operates Texoma Weather Lab as a dedicated resource for Southwest Oklahoma storm tracking and hyper-local forecasting. Residents can stay updated by following the Texoma Weather Lab Facebook page, where Bowling provides live updates and storm analysis. For those needing real-time data on the go, the Texoma Weather Lab app (available for download) and the RadarOmega app will host the live CyclonePort camera feeds and hydrological data once the East Rogers Lane site is operational.
A $8,000 Investment in Civic Oversight
While the installation comes at no cost to the city or taxpayers, it represents a significant $8,000 investment by the Texoma Weather Lab and SDS Weather. Under the proposed agreement, Texoma Weather Lab will assume all responsibility for utilities and maintenance for the entirety of the device’s life. Bowling stated that SDS Weather is providing the equipment at no charge to the Texoma Weather Lab.
“SDS Weather is in the business of acquiring weather data and they do not yet have a footprint in Oklahoma,” Bowling stated, noting that this station will join a larger network of nine stations across the region, including recent deployments in Pauls Valley and Hobart.
Real-Time Data for Emergency Response
The unit will provide a comprehensive suite of real-time data, including:
- 360-degree PTZ IP Camera: High-quality live video for visual verification of water levels.
- Hydrological Monitoring: Dedicated gauges to track creek rising in real-time.
- Atmospheric Sensors: Wind speed, temperature, pressure, humidity, rainfall, and wet-bulb temperature.
All data will be shared directly with City of Lawton staff, Comanche County Emergency Management, and the National Weather Service in Norman.
Source Credits:
- City of Lawton Agenda Item Commentary
- Authorization for Installation Agreement
- Interviews with Austin Bowling, Texoma Weather Lab
Download the apps here
Texoma Weather Lab App – App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/texoma-weather-lab/id6762084844
Download Texoma Weather Lab by SDS Weather LLC on the App Store.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.texomawxlab.app
Transparency Note: The Lawton Town Crier was provided access to proposal materials, supporting documentation, and conducted direct interviews with Texoma Weather Lab regarding this project. This reporting is based on those materials and independent review. The Lawton Town Crier has no financial relationship with Texoma Weather Lab, SDS Weather, or the City of Lawton regarding this proposed installation.