REEDSPORT - It's one thing to see the weather. It's another thing to have it on record.

That's where the new interactive weather station that will be installed next year at the Umpqua Discovery Center comes in.

Although it won't be operational for quite a while yet, UDC director Diane Novak is still plenty excited about the new exhibit.

"It will record the rainfall, temperature, wind speed, and all that, so we can have real statistics about say, a freak wind gust, or a record-setting one-hour rainfall," Novak said. "Right now we have a wind gauge, but if doesn't record anything. You have to be right here to see it."

Weather is recorded in Coos Bay/North Bend and in Florence.

"Our weather is really quite different from Coos Bay's, and even Lakeside on most days," Novak said.

The station also will boast a Web camera to show real-time photos of the weather at the Discovery Center. Those videos will be shown online, through at least two or three different Web sites, including the center's own, at www.umpquadiscoverycenter.com.

"The Web cam will be mounted on top of the building here, and pointed at the (Umpqua) river, and maybe across to where the Smith River comes in behind Bolin Island," Novak said.

She is hoping the new weather station will be operational by February or March.

The exhibit will be set up in the weather room of the Discovery Center's interactive exhibits on natural science and history. It will replace some items in the room now, including a rain gauge that simply demonstrates what a gauge does and how it works, but doesn't actually measure anything.

Instead of printed information on the walls, Novak explained, the room will have an interactive touch-screen exhibit and real-time, as well as recorded, photographs of weather phenomena.

The idea began when Cecilia A. Barringer left a bequest to the Umpqua Discovery Center in her will. A long-time supporter of the center, Mrs. Barringer wanted to help ensure it continues to grow and expand, and offer new and increasingly upgraded exhibits to both locals and tourists alike, Novak said.