Volunteer To Measure Snow for the National Weather Service

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Cleveland is looking for new volunteers to measure snow in the Snow Observation Program. If you are already in the program, you do not need to re-apply.

We need new snow observers in all of the counties that NWS Cleveland serves. Below are maps that show where we currently have snow spotters. Each snowflake represents a snow spotter, and we are hoping to fill the gaps for the 2023-2024 winter season!

Map of Snow Spotters across Northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania

Map of Snow Spotters across Northwest Pennsylvania

Map of Snow Spotters across Northeast Ohio

Map of Snow Spotters across Northwest Ohio

We could especially use more volunteer snow observers in the snow belt of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania, where more frequent snows occur due to lake effect. We will take observers anywhere in our forecast area, but specifically, we need observers in:

• Lake County, OH ***Especially the eastern third!
• Geauga County, OH ***Especially the Chesterland and Novelty areas and the Middlefield and Parkman areas!
• Cuyahoga County, OH ***Especially east of I-271!
• Medina County, OH ***Especially Medina and Wadsworth!
• Portage County, OH ***Very Much Needed in the Northern and Western portions of the County!
• Trumbull County, OH ​***Very Much Needed in the Northern Half of the County!
• Mahoning County, OH ***Very Much Needed in the Southern and Western portions of the County!
• Erie and Crawford Counties, PA ***Always can use more!
• Northwest and North Central OH ***Especially in Hancock, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Ashland, Wayne, Holmes, and Knox Counties!

And these counties just have a spotter or two!

• Wayne County, OH
• Holmes County, OH
• Ashland County, OH
• Erie County, OH
• Huron County, OH
• Ottawa County, OH
• Sandusky County, OH
• Seneca County, OH
• Wyandot County, OH
• Marion County, OH
• Knox County, OH
• Hancock County, OH

Morrow County, OH does not have any spotters!

***Let's Fill the Gaps for the 2023-2024 Winter Season!!!***

The National Weather Service Snow Observation Program is a volunteer program. Snow observers measure the snow and report to the Cleveland NWS office each morning and evening when it snows. In your observation, you will report 12 hour snowfall and the total snow on the ground via an electronic reporting form. You will also record the information on a monthly log which you will email to the NWS office in Cleveland at the end of each month.

NWS Meteorologists at the Forecast Office use your data to assist in making forecasts and issuing snow warnings or advisories. Your monthly logs are used to document monthly and seasonal snowfall at your location and also for research purposes.

Your consistency is an important aspect of the program. Observers are expected to report twice a day, every day that it snows, for the entire winter season, or as often as possible. All you need is a ruler or yard stick to measure the snow.

To volunteer, just send an email to richard.garuckas@noaa.gov with the subject line "Snow Spotter Volunteer". In your email, please include your name, full postal address, and phone number. We never share your information.

We will send a confirmation email back to you with a little more about the program. We ask that you then reply to the email confirming that you have read the email and want to volunteer for the program. If you have questions, you may email Rick at the email above.

Thank you. Let it snow!