HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- There is a new tool in the waters of Lake Michigan to help forecast the weather and water conditions.

A weather buoy towed out to Lake Michigan Monday night is part of a pilot program that several organizations are sponsoring, including the Holland Board of Public Works and the city's visitor's bureau.

A special ceremony was held Monday at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club for the launching of the buoy.

The device is located about two miles offshore from Tunnel Park.  The buoy's hull was build by S2 Yachts in Holland, and it contains sensors developed by the University of Michigan and RM Young of Traverse City.

The buoy will measure humidity, air temperature, wind speed and direction, waves, and water temperature.  The information will be transmitted to systems used by the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids to help lead to more accurate weather forecasts and severe weather alerts.

The pilot program is intended to put similar buoys closer to shore than exiting weather devices.