West Virginians will have the opportunity to join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) starting on May 1st, 2009. West Virginia will be the 43rd state joining this unique nationwide network of over 12,000 volunteers that measure precipitation and report their findings via the Internet. The state climatologist for West Virginia and the National Weather Service offices that produce forecasts, watches, and warnings for the state of West Virginia are looking for volunteer weather observers to collect precipitation data to help study the variable rainfall patterns that are so often observed in the state.

Weather buffs across the state of West Virginia will now have an opportunity to measure precipitation with a few simple tools and take an active role in meteorological reporting and research. All that is needed is a simple standardized 4 inch rain gauge. In order for reports to be consistent you must use a standardized gauge. These gauges may be purchased from the CoCoRaHS website, or from a private vendor. You can also report snowfall with a yardstick and and hail sizes with a hail pad.

This program will help meteorologists, researchers, the media, and others see and study the variability of precipitation across the state of West Virginia.

CoCoRaHS West Virginia kicks off across the Mountain State on May 1, 2009. Help us measure precipitation from Bluefield northward to Wheeling, from Huntington eastward to Martinsburg as we learn about this wonderful resource that falls from the sky. To join CoCoRaHS in West Virginia click here: Join CoCoRaHS.

Additional information about the program can be found on the CoCoRaHS website.