Volunteers bridge the gap between weather stations that are too far apart to provide accurate data on rainfall. And more volunteers are being sought.
The first thing Loren Gmachl did when she moved to Rancho Santa Margarita in 2017 was hang up her rain gauge in the backyard.
The network is currently seeking additional volunteers, and weather enthusiasts interested in joining can sign upSteve Kerrigan is part of a group of volunteers around the country who report weather conditions from their backyards. His findings go into a national database. Steve Kerrigan is part of a national group of volunteers who report weather conditions from their backyards. Kerrigan, pictured in Silverado Canyon on Sunday, March 26, 2023, uses a tube in his backyard to measure rainfall. By providing local data on rain, hail, and snow, the volunteers help bridge the gap between official weather stations, which may be too far apart to give accurate data on rainfall.
Reporting time is 7 a.m. The network has found it’s most convenient for volunteers to check their gauges in the morning, before heading to work. And for comparisons, volunteers report at the same time. For John Gray of Orange, keeping track of rainfall also provides a way to stay connected with his two sons, who live in Texas and Idaho. Gray was introduced to CoCoRahs by his oldest son, who worked as a weather spotter for the Orange County Fire Authority and volunteered as a rain spotter before moving to rural Idaho.
A contributing factor to rainfall disparity is topography and wind direction, said NWS meteorologist Brandt Maxwell. Palm Springs and Coachella Valley, for example, are sheltered by high-elevation mountains that can “ring out” precipitation before it reaches the desert area.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brief storm to hit Southern California this week, with sunny skies forecasted afterRain is expected to start Tuesday night.
Read more »
Winds expected to warm up Southern California before the next stormContinued winds could help warm up the Southland Monday afternoon, forecasters say, but any hint of spring won’t last long, with another “cold and vigorous” storm system expected to move into the region Tuesday.
Read more »
Opinion: The 'Build more homes' mantra ignores certain Southern California realitiesOpinion: The 'Build more homes' mantra ignores certain Southern California realities [Opinion]
Read more »
'Nature gave us a lifeline': Southern California refills largest reservoir after wet winterDiamond Valley Lake — a backbone of the region's water storage system — should refill to its full capacity by the end of this year, officials said.
Read more »
Refilling of Southern California reservoir underway for first time in three yearsDuring a news conference at which officials discussed the significance of the move, water from Diamond Valley Lake’s water tower continued flowing into the lake, a popular spot for boating and fish…
Read more »
'Nature gave us a lifeline': Southern California refills largest reservoir in dramatic fashionFollowing a series of winter storms that eased drought conditions across the state, Southern Californians celebrated a sight nobody has seen for several punishing years: water rushing into Diamond Valley Lake.
Read more »