Storm and Snow SPOTTER REPORTING GUIDELINES
You are asked to contact the Gray NWS office whenever you observe any of the following:
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1. Tornado
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2. Funnel Cloud
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3. Flooding of roads or homes
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4. Wind damage to structures, power lines, poles, trees, etc.
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5. Injuries or deaths resulting from severe weather or it's damage.
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6. Hail of any size. (Please reference the diameter of hail using "coins". e.g. "Quarter size hail")
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7. Storm total snowfall of 1" or more (or any hourly rate of snowfall 1" or more)
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8. Any accumulation of ice
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9. Rainfall of 1.00" or more in 24 hours or less (if you have a rain gauge)
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SNOW SPOTTERS
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Snow fall is recorded to the nearest one-tenth of an inch. (i.e. 0.1)
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Please convert all FRACTIONS to decimal Here is a sample table to help you.
If measure: Convert to:
1/4 0.3
1/3 0.3
1/2 0.5
2/3 0.7
3/4 0.8
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Snow depth is recorded to the nearest whole inch. (i.e. 15)
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Trace amounts of snow or rain are recorded as "T".
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If snow melts after it has fallen and before your next regular observation, try to eyeball an estimate.
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If you miss a day or several days, please record as "M" for missing. Then just pick up when you return. Rain observers in this situation can put a total from their guage on the day they return. From the preceding "M" reports, we'll know this is a several day total.