CoCoRaHS
- Thomas Breckel
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Become a CoCoRaHS Weather Observer
Weather in Clinton County can change quickly. A heavy rainstorm may soak one neighborhood while another area just a few miles away stays nearly dry. That kind of variation can make a big difference when it comes to flooding, storm impacts, and understanding what is really happening on the ground.
One way residents can help improve the accuracy of local weather information is by becoming part of CoCoRaHS, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network.
CoCoRaHS is a nationwide volunteer program supported by the National Weather Service, universities, emergency managers, and other organizations. Volunteers measure and report daily precipitation — including rain, hail, and snow — using a simple rain gauge and an online reporting system.
These reports provide valuable real-time information that helps meteorologists, emergency managers, and researchers better understand storms and their impacts.
Why These Reports Matter
CoCoRaHS observers contribute important data that helps communities before, during, and after weather events. Their reports are used for:
Real-time storm monitoring by the National Weather Service
Flood and severe weather analysis
Improving local weather forecasts
Historical weather records• Supporting FEMA disaster declarations
In many cases, volunteer observers help fill critical gaps between official weather stations. Even in areas where observers already exist, rainfall and snowfall can vary dramatically over short distances, making additional observers extremely valuable.
Anyone Can Participate
One of the strengths of CoCoRaHS is that anyone can become an observer.
Participants include:
Homeowners
Farmers
Teachers and students
Weather enthusiasts
Emergency responders
Anyone interested in helping their community
All that’s required is a rain gauge, a few minutes each day to take a measurement, and an internet connection to submit the report.
Free Training Opportunity
To help new volunteers get started, the National Weather Service in Wilmington is offering a virtual training webinar.
Training Webinar
Wednesday, April 87:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
The webinar will explain how the program works, how to take accurate measurements, and how to submit reports.
Ready to Join?
You can sign up to become a CoCoRaHS observer here: https://www.cocorahs.org/application.aspx
Help Fill the Weather Data Gaps
Clinton County benefits when more residents participate in programs like this. The more observation points we have across the county, the better our understanding of rainfall, flooding potential, and storm impacts.
That information helps meteorologists, emergency managers, and decision-makers respond faster and more accurately during severe weather.
If you have questions about the program, you can contact: Ashley Novak, Meteorologist – National Weather Service Wilmington CoCoRaHS Coordinator: Ashley.Novak@noaa.gov
If you have ever wondered how you could help improve weather awareness in your community, this is a simple way to make a real difference.
Consider joining the network and becoming part of the effort to improve weather reporting across Clinton County.