The National Weather Service (NWS), a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), relies on volunteer Cooperative Observers to make daily measurements of temperature and precipitation at hundreds of locations in the U.S., and the information from decades of monitoring help in understanding climate trends and conditions across the nation.

The original and most dedicated NWS Coop Observer for Steamboat Springs was R. Wayne Light. He took daily readings of weather conditions at his home at 204 Park Street in Steamboat from September 1945 until June of 1985. Since that time, there have several volunteers to continue the collection of historical climate data, at various home sites within downtown Steamboat and nearby.

List of Cooperative Observers for weather and climate information in Steamboat Springs:

Site Number: 1 (204 Park Street)
Time Period of Climate Records: September 1945 - June 1985
Site Observer: R. Wayne Light
Latitude : 40 deg 29.49 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 49.69 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6800 feet

Site Number: 2 (124 Hill Street)
Time Period of Climate Records: July 1985 - April 1987
Site Observer: Leonard Auter
Latitude : 40 deg 29.28 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 49.61 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6750 feet

Site Number: 3 (614 Pine Street)
Time Period of Climate Records: May 1987 - May 1989
Site Observer: Robert Cliff
Latitude : 40 deg 29.22 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 49.87 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6750 feet

Site Number: 4 (Steamboat Springs Middle School, 5100 Amethyst Drive)
Time Period of Climate Records: December 1993 - September 1997
Site Observer: Kevin Ford
Latitude : 40 deg 29.76 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 49.15 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6800 feet

Site Number: 5 (46 Woods Drive)
Time Period of Climate Records: December 1993 - September 1997
Site Observer: Pat Davey
Latitude : 40 deg 29.57 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 49.39 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6900 feet

Site Number: 6 (2893 Honeysuckle Lane)
Time Period of Climate Records: October 1997 - present
Site Observer: Vicky Carrington
Latitude : 40 deg 30.15 min North
Longitude : 106 deg 52.08 min West
Approximate Elevation : 6700 feet