Topic: Precipitation Totals?

[jemboogie]

I have an Acurite 5-in-1. Here in Virginia, we're getting (and going to get) lots of snow, and where I am it appears to be about an inch on the ground. But, my weather station is not reporting any precipitation. I checked other weather stations, and they're not reporting any either, and, like I said, there's about an inch on the ground.

I also noticed that the rainfall totals on all the weather stations sound really low to me.

What's with this? Do they not record precipitation like a rain gauge would?

[Josiah]

Its snow vs rain.
1 inch of snow is going to melt into a very little amount of liquid water.

[nincehelser]

You also have to take into account much of the snow may blow out of the bowl before it melts.

Basically if the precipitation isn't in liquid form, it's not going to register until it melts.

[skysummit]

Also, the snow to liquid ratio is always different.  It comes down to the surface air temperature.  It could be an 8 to 1 ratio, 10 to 1 ratio, etc.

[ValentineWeather]

Here in the upper Midwest 30-1 is possible, happened this year. With -15C 850 MB arctic highs 14-1 is the normal with the snow that occurs.

[skysummit]

Here in the upper Midwest 30-1 is possible, happened this year. With -15C 850 MB arctic highs 14-1 is the normal with the snow that occurs.

Exactly.  Man, that's some fluffy stuff there!

[ValentineWeather]

Here in the upper Midwest 30-1 is possible, happened this year. With -15C 850 MB arctic highs 14-1 is the normal with the snow that occurs.

Exactly.  Man, that's some fluffy stuff there!

Yeah, and it was hell trying to get a accurate snow depth measurement for Cocorahs, with a 15 mph wind gusting to 35  We finally had a semi wet snow today in the 20's and it was nice.