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Volunteer Rainfall Observer's Training and Informational Session

Volunteer Rainfall Observers in Illinois have Their Own “March Madness”

Every morning hundreds of volunteer rainfall observers in Illinois, including observers throughout Northern Illinois, head out to check their rain gauges rain or shine. They report their measurements as part of a growing national program, and new volunteers are needed in Northern Illinois. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network is currently in the middle of its “March Madness” recruiting drive where states compete to recruit the most new observers.

CoCoRaHS is a grassroots volunteer network of backyard weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow) in their local communities.  The program started in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1998 and now exists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  More than 10,000 volunteers participate nationwide.  Volunteers enter their observation on an interactive web site, and observations are immediately viewable on maps or in tables.  CoCoRaHS observations can be viewed at www.cocorahs.org.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There are currently more than 500 observers across the state of Illinois making and reporting daily rainfall and snow observations, supplementing the observations made at airports and by NWS Cooperative Observers.  These observations are used every day by the National Weather Service, private meteorologists and climatologists, the media, civil engineers, municipalities, farmers, and many others, including the general public. 

CoCoRaHS is looking for additional volunteers throughout the state.   In partnership with University of Illinois Extension, CoCoRaHS will be holding an information/training sessions in Kane County.  There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The session will be held on Saturday, March 31, at 10:00 a.m. at the University of Illinois Extension Office, 535 South Randall Road in St. Charles.  To register for this session go to the U of I Extension Center website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/  Use the Register Online section on the right side to sign up for the session.

To find out more about the CoCoRaHS program or to join, visit www.cocorahs.org and click on the “Join COCORAHS” link on the web page.

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