Little Mountain Weather Observer

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Published on June 30, 2023 11:56:12 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlogVKGilPY

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Little Mountain, SC (WLTX) — The National Weather Service depends on volunteers in many areas to report the temperatures and the rainfall each day. The Cooperative Observer Program started in 1890 and one Newberry County family has been a part of it nearly the whole time.

Last week, Margaret Sease Jayroe was presented with the Thomas Jefferson Award. It is the highest honor a cooperative weather observer can receive. No more than five observers are given this national award each year.



Credit: NWS Columbia
She said, "I do appreciate it. You do not do it for the honor. It is a job you get no pay for. It is just self-satisfaction and the fact that you are doing something to help somebody else and you do."

Her grandfather, Dr. John Marion Sease became the first weather observer in Little Mountain after he died, his daughter started doing the observations. When she died 56 years ago, Jayroe took over.

She has been keeping the family tradition alive since. "For 125 years of observations made by the Sease family, which began in, we think in 1893," said Jayroe.

As of now, 92-year-old Jayroe has no plans of stopping the observations. She said, "It's just a little bit that I can do for somebody else."


Credit: NWS Columbia
She said, "I have done it so long, I just want to continue."

The family has become the 5th longest active serving family in the Cooperative Observing Program.

She says her son is going to take over the observations when she is no longer able to do them.