Dense Fog Advisory; CoCoRaHS

Update: 12:20 p.m.: Our Wisconsin counties and northwest Illinois counties have been dropped from the Dense Fog Advisory. The fog should start dissipating in most other areas as the early afternoon wears on, although localized dense fog will stick around in those favored low-lying locations.

Are you an avid watcher of weather? Do you have internet access? Of course you do... you're reading our weather blog online! :)

Yesterday, I mentioned something called the CoCoRaHS Network. It started ten years ago in Colorado, and in the past couple years it has really taken off. It has been beneficial to researchers, broadcasters, and Weather Service forecasters. So... what is it?

CoCoRaHS is the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network. Observers report rain, snow, and hail at their location at least once daily using high-quality but fairly inexpensive measuring devices. They then input their observations on the CoCoRaHS website. These data are used by many people in widely varying professions.

What does it take to join? Just a few things, really. First, a ruler to measure snow (yes, a ruler really is a meteorological tool). Second, a standard four-inch rain gauge (not an automatic one). Third, the ability to provide dependably punctual observations around 7 a.m. ... and additional observations during heavy rain or snow if possible.

The national CoCoRaHS website [click here] has a wealth of general information. Illinois and Wisconsin are both participating states and have a need for additional observers. Click here for the Illinois CoCoRaHS site and here for the Wisconsin CoCoRaHS site. They provide links on how to join, training information, where to obtain the standard four-inch rain gauge at a discounted price, and a wealth of other useful information.

Tim Halbach, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Chicago, emailed me with this interesting anecdote:
"One of the best reports that we've had from the program since we've been spun up here in Illinois was an intense precip report out of the Rockford area early in August when all the flooding was. She reported that 6" of rain had fallen, and sent the report in at 2am!"
He also writes that they'd really like to see more observations around Rockford and in Ogle and Lee Counties.

-JUSTIN