Cooperative Observers are currently needed in the following locations:
- Doty (Lewis County)
- Toledo (Lewis County)
- Ocean Shores (Grays Harbor County)
- Westport (Grays Harbor County)
- Pacific Beach (Grays Harbor County)
- Port Angeles (Clallam County)
- Western Clallam County
- Jefferson County
If you are interested in becoming a cooperative weather
observer, please contact
Arthur Gaebel.
What is the job of a Co-Op observer?
Being a NWS Co-Operative observer can be a demanding job. To provide
accurate and complete weather data, observations are required seven days a
week, 365 days a year. This does not mean that someone has to be monitoring
the "weather" all the time; instruments are provided to monitor temperature
and precipitation. However, someone should be available to record the daily
maximum and minimum temperature, the precipitation, and snowfall. This
generally is done around 7am, but observation times can be shifted to fit
the observer's schedule.
This information is recorded on a form or computer and
then mailed
monthly to the local NWS office for quality assurance before forwarding to
the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina.
What equipment do I use?
The placement [and type] of Cooperative Weather Observers are determined by the
NCDC and the local NWS office. Generally cooperative stations are evenly
spaced in relatively flat terrain (more than 20 miles apart) but may be
closer together in hilly terrain or under special circumstances.
Personnel from the NWS will deliver, set up and maintain the necessary
equipment. Typically, the Co-Op station consists of a set of Maximum/Minimum
thermometers or a Max/Min Temperature System (MMTS) and an 8 inch stainless
steel rain gauge. Precipitation is measured by placing a calibrated stick
into the tube, seeing where the water marks the stick and recording the
value.
At the end of each month, the forms are forwarded to the NWS office in
Seattle for quality assurance, then forwarded to NCDC.
For more information on the instrumentation used, check
out the Instrument page.
What kind of training is involved?
Training consists of on site, hands on instruction with the designated Co-Op
Observer and their backup. This usually is done the same day as the
equipment is installed and takes about one hour. If necessary, additional
training may be provided upon request. Basic equipment maintenance is
discussed and the Co-Op observer is provided with a name ("point of
contact") and a number should additional questions or problems arise.
Additional training material can be found on the
Instructional
Material page.