What is CoCoRaHS?

cocorahs.org

CoCoRaHS stands for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow).   By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Website the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. There are CoCoRaHS observers in all 50 states. There are even observers in Puerto Rico and Canada! Reports from CoCoRaHS observers are used by the National Weather Service, the National Centers for Environmental Information, engineers, farmers, teachers, and many others. This data becomes a part of the climate historical record to help us better understand past events. Anyone can become an observer! Interested in becoming one? Great! Follow the steps below! Want to know more? Check out our CoCoRaHS links or contact your CoCoRaHS coordinator! Contact information is below.

Who Uses the Data?

Scientists everywhere! This includes people like the National Weather Service (NWS), the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), universities studying the atmospheric and oceanic sciences, meteorologists on TV, and many more. For us at the weather service, CoCoRaHS observations are vital in helping us quality control the precipitation reports we get from weather stations since we cannot have weather stations everywhere. It can also clue us in to areas that may be in danger of experiencing areal or flash flooding. Want to know more about how CoCoRaHS observations are used? Click here!

How to Become an Observer

Have you decided you want to become one of our awesome observers? Click here to go to the application on the CoCoRaHS website. Fill out that application, and hit submit! For your rain gauge, you can purchase one from www.weatheryourway.com/cocorahs.

Congratulations! You are now an official CoCoRaHS observer!

After Submitting Your Application

Now, you are ready to start observing. There are several videos you can watch to learn how to measure rain, snow, and even hail. Click on one of the links below to learn more about measuring precipitation, hail, evapotranspiration, and recording your landscape’s current condition!

Measuring and Reporting Rain

Measuring Extreme Rainfall

Measuring Snow

Measuring Hail

Measuring Evapotranspiration*

How much moisture are plants, trees, and other vegetation giving off to the atmosphere?

Measuring Soil Moisture*

Condition Monitoring

Is your landscape dry, normal, wet? These observations are incredibly helpful for determining drought conditions, above normal rainfall seasons, and fire weather forecasting.

Additional Resources & Contact Information

Need more information?

Check out the CoCoRaHS website - cocorahs.org

Find contact information for your state, regional, or county coordinator. -  https://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=coord

State of Maine CoCoRaHS Coordinator Details Here: https://www.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=me

*Only certain observers will be able to do evapotranspiration and soil moisture observations. Check with your local, regional, or national coordinators for more information.