Latest news with #StateClimatologyOffice
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Volunteer rainfall monitors wanted
Mar. 24—DULUTH — Do you have a 4-inch diameter rain gauge and access to the internet? If so, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' State Climatology Office wants your weather observations. The office is seeking volunteer rainfall and precipitation monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, which includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure and report rain and snow totals from their backyards. Volunteers are particularly needed outside the Twin Cities metro area. "Rainfall and snowfall amounts can vary widely over a short distance, so a variety of reports is helpful in the same community or area," State Climatologist Luigi Romolo said in a news release. "We have some areas in greater Minnesota that have very few reporting stations. The more we have across the state, the better information we all have." Volunteers will receive online training on observing weather trends and submitting their precipitation and weather event reports, the news release said. Volunteers can receive discounts on 4-inch diameter rain gauges if they can't provide their own. The data, reported online by participants, is used by scientists to monitor drought, assess floods and guide agricultural decisions, Romolo said. "Over time, as more volunteer reports make our precipitation maps more accurate, these observations provide critical guidance on Minnesota's changing climate," Romolo said. "This is also a great educational activity for families with kids and a rewarding hobby for anyone interested in weather or climate." For more information or to sign up, visit or contact Luigi Romolo at
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Backyard meteorologist? Minnesota is looking for volunteers to help monitor rainfall.
Organizers of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, the state's rainfall monitor volunteer program, are putting out a call for more volunteers to measure rain, hail and snow in their backyards. The program, called CoCoRaHS for short, is coordinated by the State Climatology Office. Data gathered by volunteers from around the state is invaluable to state climatologists as they work on drought monitoring, flood management and for verifying high rainfall totals, said Luigi Romolo, the state climatologist. CoCoRaHS maps daily reports from more than 20,000 people nationwide. About 2,000 Minnesota residents participate, with about 800 to 1,200 regularly contributing data, Romolo said. Rainfall and snowfall amounts can vary widely over a short distance, so a variety of reports is helpful in the same community or area, according to Romolo. 'We have stations all across the metro, but because of the spatial variability, the more stations we have, the more likely we are to understand how much rainfall we're actually getting,' he said. 'There are also lots of gaps in rural areas. We are trying to fill those gaps. Ideally, each year we would like to recruit at least two or three people from each county, but we could use at least 20 more just in northern Washington county and about 20 to 30 more in Dakota County.' Volunteers are asked to use a standard 4-inch-diameter plastic rain gauge for official rainfall measurements; they can be found online for about $42, Romolo said. Volunteers receive training on how to observe weather trends and how to submit their precipitation and weather-event reports; all training material is available online. Participants must have internet access to submit reports, he said. To sign up or for more information, visit or contact Luigi Romolo at Local News | '3 Old Guys' reach their destination in Newfoundland, ending 3,700-mile snowmobile trek Local News | Keith Ellison: Settlement reached with Maplewood man in lawsuit over 'deceptive' nonprofits Local News | Ontario threat on electricity would have little effect on Minnesota Power, regional grid Local News | Letters: The taxing cost of living in Minnesota Local News | Minnesota funeral home owner accused of attempting to transport body while intoxicated
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rainfall monitoring network seeks volunteers
Mar. 4—The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' State Climatology Office is seeking rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch diameter rain gauge. Participants submit their precipitation reports online. The data from backyard rain gauges are a critical source of information and it's beneficial to add more volunteer weather observers each year, even in areas where there are already volunteers. Volunteers are particularly needed outside the immediate Twin Cities metro area. Volunteers receive training on how to observe weather trends and how to submit their precipitation and weather event reports. All training material is available online. Participants must purchase or provide a standard 4-inch diameter rain gauge (available at discount through CoCoRaHS) and have internet access to submit reports. For the past five years, Minnesota has won the "CoCoRaHS Cup" for recruiting the most new volunteers of any state during the March national recruiting drive. To sign up or for more information, visit the CoCoRaHS website ( or contact Luigi Romolo (
