What is CoCoRaHS?
CoCoRaHS is an acronym for Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a non-profit community based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure precipitation. The network originated at Colorado State University in 1988 and has expanded to thousands of observers in over half of the Untied States.
Who can participate?
This is a community project. Everyone can help. The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can effect our lives. The ultimate goal of the program is to have one observer per square mile in urban/suburban areas and one observer every 36 square miles in rural areas.
Once trained, volunteers collect data using tools such as a 4 inch diameter rain gage (see picture below).
How does one join?
Visit the CoCoRaHS home page and fill out an application. All new observers in Indiana are encouraged to attend a training session, either a live session or a walk-in training session with a county coordinator. Please see the Indiana page on the CoCoRaHs site for more information. Online training slideshows and videos are also available on the CoCoRaHS page and on the NWS Indianapolis YouTube page.
CoCoRaHS in Indiana is made possible by: The Indiana State Climate Office at Purdue University and the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis.
Online Training
A recorded online training session for CoCoRaHS is available.
The Spring rainy season is approaching rapidly. Tune in as the Indiana CoCoRaHS team lead a training on how to get your station set up and provide some training on what CoCoRaHS is and how to participiate.
Register for Upcoming Training Sessions: