What is CoCoRaHS?

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a grassroots, non-profit, community-based, high density precipitation network made up of volunteers from all backgrounds and ages who take daily measurements of 'just precipitation' right in their own backyards. Given the variable pattern of rainfall over Florida, it's important to understand just how much rain fell in an area. How many times have you heard the rainfall report from an official gauge and thought to yourself: That's not what I got?

This is your chance to help. By providing your daily precipitation data, you truly help many in Florida in one way or another - whether it's agricultural specialists, National Weather Service meteorologists, forestry officials, water management employees or emergency management personnel.

So, you want to become an observer?

It's easy to sign-up to become an observer through http://www.cocorahs.org/Application.aspx. Once you sign up, someone will contact you with all the information (station name, station number and login support) you need to get your station up and running.

You'll need a few 'tools of the trade' in order to be a successful observer:

The desire and commitment to help study and learn about precipitation and storms
A 4-inch rain gauge and your own unique station number and name
Training
Internet access

Need a rain gauge?

You can purchase an official CoCoRaHS rain gauge for $22 from the following suppliers:

Before you start, you need to be trained.

In order to properly set up your rain gauge and to learn how to accurately read your rain gauge (yes, there is a wrong way to do it!), you'll need some training. You can read through the training seminar online at http://www.cocorahs.org/Media/docs/CoCoRaHS_Training_6.5.pdf. We hope to have in-person training seminars in the future!

To learn more about CoCoRaHS in Florida...

Check out the Florida CoCoRaHS website or contact one of the State Co-Coordinators:

Melissa Griffin
Florida Climate Center/Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
Florida State University
232 R.M. Johnson Building
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2840

Dr. Pat Welsh
University of North Florida
4567 St. John Bluff Road, South
Jacksonville, FL 32224

Florida CoCoRaHS Newsletters

January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
August 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009