Topic: Signing Up for CoCoRaHS & COOP

[DJMWX86]

Hello all,

I'm interested in signing up for these 2 organizations to be move involved with my hobby and love of weather.

COOP: Do I need to contact my local NWS to see if they need a COOP station?

CoCoRaHS: How do I sign up? Is there a class to take? Is it easy? Any testimonials would be helpful.

[SlowModem]

Hello all,

I'm interested in signing up for these 2 organizations to be move involved with my hobby and love of weather.

COOP: Do I need to contact my local NWS to see if they need a COOP station?

CoCoRaHS: How do I sign up? Is there a class to take? Is it easy? Any testimonials would be helpful.

CoCoRaHS:  http://cocorahs.org

There is lots of information there.  You will need to buy one of their gauges, but all the training info is free there.

Coop:  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/

[wxtech]

I'm a cooperative observer for NWS and a CoCoRaHS observer.
Contact the Cooperative Program Manager at your regional NWS office.  Ask that you be placed on their list of volunteers.  They may need an observer now or you'll be contacted when an opening occurs.  Give your exact physical address and latitude/longitude coordinates.

Go to www.cocorahs.org to volunteer as an observer.  You must use the manual 4 inch professional rain gauge.  You must be trained prior to submitting precipitation reports.  Training can be online anytime or at a meeting.

Coop observers tend to hold on to the stations for life.  My station was begun in 1952 and I'm only the third operator.  My predecessor operated LXTG1 for 33 years.  I've been observing for NWS since April 2004.
Al
LXTG1 NWS Oglethorpe County Weather Station
GA-OG-1 CoCoRaHS Observer.

It gives me credibility when I can qualify my weather data by saying that my equipment is provided by and checked by NWS.  "The official NWS temperature in Downtown Lexington is . . . . . . . . ".

[DJMWX86]

Does any one know if Ohio takes part in the CoCoRaHS Hail Pad portion of data recording?
For snow, can I use my own snow board?

I'm going to e-mail my COOP NWS rep today and ask to be placed on their volunteer list.

[wxtech]

Does any one know if Ohio takes part in the CoCoRaHS Hail Pad portion of data recording?
For snow, can I use my own snow board?
I'm going to e-mail my COOP NWS rep today and ask to be placed on their volunteer list.

Questions to be answered by your state and local coordinators.
http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=coord_OH

[DJMWX86]

I e-mailed one of the OH cords and we don't use the hail pads and I can use my own snow board. 
How does COOP members submit their data?

[wxtech]

How does COOP members submit their data?

Those procedures are covered in the training online or at a meeting or you can request training from your local CoCoRaHS Coordinator.  Your area procedures may vary from what I taught at our county meetings. 
http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=training_slideshows
Precipitation is reported online after you apply for and receive a station ID from CoCoRaHS.  They will inform you how to sign in and report.
Most reporting is online but you can call in precip data.
Don't report precip data until you complete the training.

[DJMWX86]

I'm now a member of CoCoRaHS.    I am reporting every day and still looking over the training materials but I'm glad I did it. I just now have to get used to reporting my data early in the morning. 

[floodcaster]

I'm now a member of CoCoRaHS.    I am reporting every day and still looking over the training materials but I'm glad I did it. I just now have to get used to reporting my data early in the morning. 

Congrats Doug! Welcome to the CoCoRaHS team.

[SlowModem]

I'm now a member of CoCoRaHS.    I am reporting every day and still looking over the training materials but I'm glad I did it. I just now have to get used to reporting my data early in the morning. 

Welcome to the 7:am-rain-or-shine-cold-or-hot-sick-or-well-read-the-rain-gauge army!

 

[wxtech]

I'm now a member of CoCoRaHS.    I am reporting every day and still looking over the training materials but I'm glad I did it. I just now have to get used to reporting my data early in the morning. 

Welcome CoCoRaisin.  Keep up reporting those zeros along with the wet numbers.  Zeros are just as important.  The users of your data needs to know also where it didn't rain.
Be careful when you report also.  If you submit your report before 7 your default time, change the report time.  I see you were eager a few times and submitted your 7 am report before 7 am. 
Al

[DJMWX86]

Did I do it to early? That's weird because I don't remember doing it that early as I would probally still be asleep 
What is the latest that we can submit our report and still have it show on the map? 9:30am I think it was?

[wxtech]

Did I do it to early? That's weird because I don't remember doing it that early as I would probally still be asleep 
What is the latest that we can submit our report and still have it show on the map? 9:30am I think it was?

I'm just a stickler for details.  Don't worry. 
Your report form has the date and time pre-filled in.  If you submit your data earlier than your default report time; you should change the report time.  Yesterday, you submitted the 7am report @ 6:48am.  That's not bad but some folks are submitting their 7am reports a lot earlier.  I try to wait until after 7 to submit my report.
Cuyahoga county doesn't have a coordinator, you should fill that duty.

[tomcj2]

If you find that 7am is not convenient, they can change your default time if you request.  I submit mine at 5:45 am each day because I normally leave the house by 6.

[DJMWX86]

I guess if it rains I'll make my self get up and read the gauge at 7am and submit it. If it rains days on end then that will be a bit of a pain.     In my area we just have region cords and not county. The northern Ohio cord is at the Cleveland NWS. See: http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=coord_OH

I'm still trying to figure out how to use the Significant weather form. How and when do I use this one?

[wxtech]

I guess if it rains I'll make my self get up and read the gauge at 7am and submit it. If it rains days on end then that will be a bit of a pain.     In my area we just have region cords and not county. The northern Ohio cord is at the Cleveland NWS. See: http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=coord_OH

I'm still trying to figure out how to use the Significant weather form. How and when do I use this one?

Cuyahoga county has 13 registered stations.  That is enough to warrant a county coordinator.  Lots of counties don't have coordinators because no one volunteered.  It's a great job.  I was the first in my county until I needed to go on to other jobs. 

The significant weather that I'm most concerned with is rain amount in a short period.  NWS guideline is if it rains .3 inches in an hour, then they want to know about it.  Not greater than .3 inches per hour, but .3 inches accumulated in an hour.  I also report high winds, lightning, dense fog and flooding.

[Shaw55]

I'm a cooperative observer for NWS and a CoCoRaHS observer.

Hi,

I am also considering joining either CoCoRaHS, COOP or both. CoCoRaHS seems like the logical first step.

I was wondering. After looking at the COOP service manual document 10-1315, it seems there are a variety of different monitoring equipment the NWS can install on your property. Which sensors did they install at your site?

I'm not sure my location would be very good for the COOP as we own just a little over 1/2 acre. 1/4 acre is all trees and the house sits on the other 1/4 acre surrounded by trees with a running brook within 12 feet of one corner.

Richard

[wxtech]

I'm a cooperative observer for NWS and a CoCoRaHS observer.

Hi,

I am also considering joining either CoCoRaHS, COOP or both. CoCoRaHS seems like the logical first step.

I was wondering. After looking at the COOP service manual document 10-1315, it seems there are a variety of different monitoring equipment the NWS can install on your property. Which sensors did they install at your site?

I'm not sure my location would be very good for the COOP as we own just a little over 1/2 acre. 1/4 acre is all trees and the house sits on the other 1/4 acre surrounded by trees with a running brook within 12 feet of one corner.

Richard

Volunteer for both.  CoCoRaHS needs your precipation data.  NWS Coop may not need a station at your location.  Get your name on their list, it may take years for before they need you.
In April 2004 the Regional Coop Program Manager installed a Nimbus Max/min temperature system, a Standard Rain Gauge (8 inch), and a Fischer-Porter Weighing Rain Gauge.  The F-P was refurbished Jan 2010.  It wasn't my option to select the equipment.  He asked where I wanted the equipment and he surveyed the location.  He determined that it was satisfactory and complied with their siting requirements.
You should designate and train someone who will step in and do your daily duties as your 'second' in case you are not able to make the daily report.  This is not unattended equipment and requires a daily observation and report.

[Shaw55]

In April 2004 the Regional Coop Program Manager installed a Nimbus Max/min temperature system, a Standard Rain Gauge (8 inch), and a Fischer-Porter Weighing Rain Gauge.  The F-P was refurbished Jan 2010.  It wasn't my option to select the equipment.  He asked where I wanted the equipment and he surveyed the location.  He determined that it was satisfactory and complied with their siting requirements.
You should designate and train someone who will step in and do your daily duties as your 'second' in case you are not able to make the daily report.  This is not unattended equipment and requires a daily observation and report.

Thanks for sharing your site info.

I had a question about what to do in case I was absent from my property for a time and your last statement provided the answer.

Richard

[DJMWX86]

I'm not a COOP reporter and only chose CoCoRaHS because I felt like that and COOP reporting would be a bit much for me right now. I'm just happy I'm able to contribute any way I can to that and other great data bases ie CWOP, WUnderground, etc.