CoCoRaHS (the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network) is coming to Arizona! We need you to help us measure the precipitation throughout the state, “Because every drop counts”, particularly in our desert state. If the nearest official gauge doesn’t match the amount you get at your house, here’s your chance to let us know how much rain, hail or snow you measured. This effort is supported by the State Climate Office for Arizona and the National Weather Service.

Starting August 15, 2009, if you would like to sign-up as a volunteer observer and become part of our expanding network, please click on the "Join CoCoRaHS" image above. If you have questions, click here to find out who your regional coordinator is and feel free to contact them.

If you already participate in another observation network, such as Rainlog, and you have a 4” manual plastic rain gauge (as shown in the picture below), we welcome your observations and encourage you to participate in both networks. Many CoCoRaHS observers across the country participate in multiple networks. It just takes just a few more minutes to enter your data into the CoCoRaHS system (online).

CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web-site, our aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. We currently operate in 47 states across the country.

This is a community project. Everyone can help, young, old, and in-between. The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how weather can effect and impact our lives.

Each time a rain, hail or snow storm crosses your area, volunteers take measurements of precipitation from as many locations as possible. These precipitation reports are then recorded on our Web site www.cocorahs.org. The data are then displayed and organized for many of our end users to analyze and apply to daily situations ranging from water resource analysis and severe storm warnings to neighbors comparing how much rain fell in their backyards.

CoCoRaHS is used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals. The National Weather Service, other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (water supply, water conservation, storm water), insurance adjusters, USDA, engineers, mosquito control, ranchers and farmers, outdoor & recreation interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community are just some examples of those who visit our Web site and use our data.

CoCoRaHS has several goals (as stated in our mission statement). 1) provide accurate high-quality precipitation data for our many end users on a timely basis; 2) increasing the density of precipitation data available throughout the country by encouraging volunteer weather observing; 3) encouraging citizens to have fun participating in meteorological science and heightening their awareness about weather; 4) providing enrichment activities in water and weather resources for teachers, educators and the community at large to name a few.

One of the neat things about participating in this network is coming away with the feeling that you have made an important contribution that helps others. By providing your daily observation, you help to fill in a piece of the weather puzzle that affects many across your area in one way or another. You also will have the chance to make some new friends as you do something important and learn some new things along the way. In some areas, activities are organized for network participants including training sessions, field trips, special speakers, picnics, pot-luck dinners, and photography contests just to name a few.