Coop Observers

Tracking a Winter Storm; Unusual Early-Season Heat Wave in the Southwest

A major winter storm will organize across the Northern Plains today and then rapidly strengthen as it moves into the Great Lakes on Sunday. Heavy snow and blowing snow are likely to persist over the Great Lakes into Monday night. Dry and gusty winds will produce a critical fire risk across the central/southern Plains. An early heatwave will begin to intensify over the western U.S. into next week. Read More >

Cooperative Observing Weather Program

Pictured above are the standard weather measuring equipment used by our volunteer observers. Most observers are equipped with at least an 8 inch standard rain gauge, and they usually also have either an MMTS or Cotton Region Shelter.

The all-volunteer Cooperative Observing Weather Program provides base weather data, incorporated with other scientific and atmospheric data, into our computer models. Weather data is the vital life-blood for nearly all of the National Weather Services internal severe weather warning and general forecast programs. Cooperative Weather volunteers will measure the temperature and rainfall each morning around 7 a.m. Those rainfall amounts, for instance, help in determining the amount of soil saturation within your area, which in turn, helps with determining how much rain is needed before flooding conditions are expected for your community. Early flood and flash flood watches and warnings are then very timely issued so residents can take the proper precautions.

There are nearly 12,000 volunteer Cooperative Weather Observers providing this information for Weather Service offices nationwide. Your Mount Holly Weather Service Office averages replacing around 4 volunteers each year within this area.

If you would like more information on the volunteer Cooperative Weather Program, see: https://www.weather.gov/phi/recruit

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