Weather Observers Wanted
Press release from Northwest California CoCoRaHS:
Citizen Science Program needs your help observing the weather!
Do you ever wonder how much rainfall you received from a recent thunderstorm? How about snowfall during a winter storm? If so, an important volunteer weather observing program needs your help! The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network, or CoCoRaHS, is looking for new volunteers across northwest California. This grassroots effort is part of a growing national network of home-based and amateur rain spotters with a goal of providing a high density precipitation network that will supplement existing observations.
CoCoRaHS came about as a result of a devastating flash flood that hit Fort Collins, Colorado, in July 1997. A local severe thunderstorm dumped over a foot of rain in several hours while other portions of the city had only modest rainfall. The ensuing flood caught many by surprise and caused $200 million in damages. CoCoRaHS was born in 1998 with the intent of doing a better job of mapping and reporting intense storms. As more volunteers participated, rain, hail, and snow maps were produced for every storm showing fascinating local patterns that were of great interest to scientists and the public. Recently, drought reporting has also become an important observation within the CoCoRaHS program across the nation. In fact, drought observations from CoCoRaHS are now being included in the National Integrated Drought Information System.
How does one become a CoCoRaHS observer? Go to the CoCoRaHS website above and click on the “Join CoCoRaHS” emblem on the upper right side of the main website. After registering, take the simple online training, order your 4 inch rain gauge and start reporting!
To obtain a rain gauge Volunteers can order through the CoCoRaHS website (http://www.cocorahs.org) for about $35 plus shipping. We do have a limited number of rain gauges to give out if you are able to be a regular observer and there is a limited number of observers currently in your area. Apply with this form.
Observations are available on maps and reports for the public to view within five minutes of submitting them. The process takes only five minutes a day, but the impact to the community is tenfold: By providing high quality, accurate measurements, the observers are able to supplement existing networks and provide useful results to scientists, resource managers, decision makers and other users.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Matthew Kidwell at the NWS in Eureka at [email protected] or call at 707-443-6484.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
If you are a weather watcher anyway, this is great to do. Not only is it done with a great ACCURATE rain gauge that measures to 1/100th of an inch, but the map made from our observations is fascinating, especially given all the mountains and microclimates in our area. And the more data they have, the better they can predict storm impacts here.
Thanks, Dot. I already keep a weather journal. This might be a fun way to be helpful.
It was easy to sign up. Yes, I did have to purchase a weather gage. This will be a fun project!
How’s that snow drought coming along , crack me up.
Don’t want to rain on their parade, but not sure weather or not this is put out by the rain gauge company.
$35 and shipping?
“We do have a limited number of rain gauges to give out if you are able to be a regular observer and there is a limited number of observers currently in your area.”
“Sorry, at this time we are out of free gauges, We accept all major credit cards.”
It’s worth it! Doing this every morning is addictive and you meet scores of people and have rain documented discussions.
I am not being serious. It sounds like a good project. I have a rain gauge.
The 4″ gauge is SO Woodley Island. Gonna have to check that thing three-four times a day out in the ‘Dew.
It’s an 11 inch gauge – complete with a center inch of hundredths, fed by a top funnel and overflows into the main collection tube – comes with a mounting plate. I joined up a few years back, and may have to move my gauge because I’m in trees that are growing high and thick, even after taking out a ton of fir 20 years ago. Rain doesn’t always come in straight down, even though having it on my deck railing is so convenient – no walking out to the gauge with an umbrella…yet.
I measured 3.88 inches of rain yesterday morning, and 3.02 inches the morning before – total for 2 mornings of 6.9 inches…south of the ‘Dew.
It’s an orographically favorable spot on a ridge, where southern storms sorta get opened up and dump…have a total of over 120 inches since 7/1/23. I don’t start a rain year in October…CoCoRahs starts their rain records from 10/1. It’s fun to do..part of my morning routine.
I have 41 inches since 7/1/23 here in south Eureka area. A few inches over normal.
How many social credits is it worth?!
These studies have already been done and can be obtained at the local weather bureau. They were put together by Al Puffer, who was a weatherman there for years. Average for all stations inHumboldt and Del Norte is 60 inches per year, ranging from just under forty to over 100 inches.
I have been collecting for this program for several years and I know the data is very valuable to our local forecasts. It does take a commitment to make daily observations but how hard is it to go the the gauge and read it? There is a huge variation in every nook and cranny of Humboldt. I love looking at the map generated: https://maps.cocorahs.org/ Nation wide rain readings!
That’s a nice rain gauge, but they have it priced higher than a cat’s ass. I still kinda want one though. Guess I’ll see if it’s still on my mind in a few months.