Spotter Home SKYWARN Rain/Snow Volunteer

Rain and Snow Spotter Information

STORM SPOTTER REPORTING GUIDELINES

You are asked to contact the NWS office in Binghamton whenever you observe any of the following:

1. Tornado
2. Funnel Cloud
3. Flooding of roads or homes
4. Wind damage to structures, power lines, poles, trees, etc.
5. Injuries or deaths resulting from severe weather or it's damage.
6. Hail of any size. (Please reference the diameter of hail using "coins". e.g. "Quarter size hail")
7. Storm total snowfall of 3" or more (or any hourly rate of snowfall 1" or more)
8. Any accumulation of ice
9. Rainfall of 1.00" or more in 24 hours or less (if you have a rain gauge)

REPORTING GUIDELINES FOR RAIN/SNOW CLIMATE SPOTTERS

In addition to the storm spotting guidelines above, climate spotters are asked to:

• Measure and record the amount of 24-hour rainfall (or liquid equivalent), snowfall and total snow depth once each day. (Preferably morning)
• Please record your snowfall and snow depth data on the CoCoRaHS website at least at the end of each month.

Tips and Tricks

• Snow fall is recorded to the nearest one-tenth of an inch. (i.e. 0.1)



• 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		

• Snow depth is recorded to the nearest whole inch. (i.e. 15)



• Trace amounts of snow or rain are recorded as "T".



• If snow melts after it has fallen and before your next regular observation, try to eyeball an estimate.



• If you miss a day or several days, please record as "NA" for missing.
  
  
• Rain observers can enter their rainfall for days missed in the "Multi-Day Precipitation" link.