News 40 Weather Reports: Citizen Scientists help fill weather data gaps through CoCoRaHS program

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – From heavy rain to completely dry days, meteorologists say every data point plays a role in understanding the weather.

That’s the idea behind CoCoRaHS, a volunteer-based program that allows residents to measure precipitation from their own backyards and report it daily.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say the data helps fill in gaps left by radar, especially during scattered storms that can produce vastly different rainfall totals across short distances.

“It’s trying to fill the gaps when a pop up storm really wants to rain on one side of Bowling Green or one part of the area, but it doesn’t want to rain someplace else,” said meteorologist Brian Neudorff.

The program is especially valuable during periods of dry weather.

Crystal Stiles, a CoCoRaHS participant, said even days without rain provide critical information.

“I will note that as we are in drought right now, that I’ve had lots of zeros lately, but it’s really important to report the zeros because that tells everyone not that you’re not reporting, but that there’s actually no precipitation falling,” Stiles said.

Stiles is also a government contractor for NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System and serves as a Tribal Engagement Coordinator for the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Meteorologists say the more volunteers who participate, the more accurate forecasts and warnings can become, including those for flooding and drought conditions.

“You get to help the National Weather Service… you get to give us a clearer picture from river flooding to all of our models… more data, more good data, the better the product,” Neudorff said.

Getting involved is relatively simple. Participants need a standard 4-inch rain gauge, an internet connection and a few minutes each day to report their observations.

Officials say the effort is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, offering a hands-on way to contribute to science while helping keep communities informed and prepared.

Residents interested in joining can sign up online at CoCoRaHS.org.