Weather Network Needs Volunteers to Watch the Sky

Hundreds of volunteers in Illinois, including more than 20 volunteers in Kane County, have measured and reported local rainfall and snowfall each day.

These volunteers are part of a national program called the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network.  CoCoRaHS is looking for weather observers throughout Kane County and northern Illinois to measure rain, snow, and hail. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.

“The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network is a grassroots national program of backyard weather observers working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow) in their local communities,” says Jon Snurka, Kane County Coordinator for CoCoRaHS.  “The more rainfall observers we have, the better we can describe the amount and extent of precipitation in Illinois.  CoCoRaHS observers are a valuable supplement to the daily weather observations by National Weather Service observers.

This is a great activity for families, schools, and anyone interested in the weather or the environment,” he adds.

High-quality observations made by CoCoRaHS volunteers are used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals, including the National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (for issues related to water supply, conservation, and storm water), insurance adjusters, U.S. Department of Agriculture, engineers, mosquito-control specialists, farmers, outdoor and recreational interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community. 

To participate as a volunteer weather observer or for additional information, interested persons are invited to attend an information and training workshop to be held on March 15 from 7 PM – 8:30 PM.  The training will be conducted by William Morris, Hydrologist from the National Weather Service and Jon Snurka, Kane County Coordinator. 

The workshop is offered through the Kane County Extension office of the University of Illinois, 535 S. Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL.  There is no cost to attend the training session, but pre-registration is required. To register, visithttp://web.extension.illinois.edu/kane.  Use the program registration section to pre-register.

Requirements to participate include access to internet for reporting, an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions, and a desire to learn more about how the weather can affect and impact our lives. There will also be an approximate $25 cost for supplies if someone chooses to participate after the training, but the workshop is free.

CoCoRaHS, a nonprofit organization, is supported by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other contributors.  CoCoRaHS in Illinois is coordinated by the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois, the National Weather Service, and the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Management Team.  For more details about the weather network or other upcoming training sessions, visit the websitewww.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=il.