...... Why did this never happen in 12 years with the tipping gauge? That’s why I don’t understand why Davis changed the design.

Being somehow or thinking it applies to snow I don't have snow background so can't offer anything there.

As for changing the Tipping spoon design, that was logical, must better operational, mechanical and sensor design.

With the original tipping bucket as with the tipping spoon a computed rain rate of 84"/hr is definatley out there. Past few weeks have seen 250mm/hr which was observed within a 1 minute interval of 3.2mm (full time hour equiv 192mm/hr) hence there was a time within that 1 minute where it spiked towards 250mm/hr. Over the years in very heavy weather have seen 400 & 455/mm/hr, quite a few times hitting 300-350 but regularly see 200+mm/hr both with bucket & spoon.

I have recorded upward of 1600mm/hr but that was due to a oscillating/flickering bucket pinned with a twig through the hole         

Another thought and something that has been observed/logged and basically explainable with very overly high Vantage Vue rainfall is the spoon bouncing and a function of heavy rain and large rain droplets that due to the large opening in the Vue rain cone droplets can directly hit the spoon at speed causing it to bounce/stutter more so than the normal full tipping action.

Note sure how this might relate to melting snow and VP2 as opening is much smaller and mechanically a little different scenario? 

I live in Chicago and we get snow periodically from November to March. I gave up trying to capture precipitation during the winter in my VP2s. Too many variables could and do affect readings. Instead, during snow periods, I measure (actually weigh and then calculate) precipitation in a manual plastic gauge I purchased to participate in CoCoRaHS, a volunteer precipitation group in North America. I don’t believe they have a presence in the UK. After measuring precipitation in that gauge I manually update the precipitation measurements in my VP2 consoles (haven’t tried this in the new 6313 console yet, but I assume you can) as well as in my WeatherLink software. A hassle but it works. Davis used to make a “heater” for the rain collector but with the release of its Aerocone several years ago, the heater concept was apparently discontinued by Davis. Probably Davis came to the same conclusion—measuring precipitation in VP2s in locations that receive snow just has too problems, variables, etc., and VP2 owners need to adapt accordingly.

Hi John,

AFAIK CoCoRaHS as an organisation is US only,

Currently they say in USA, Canada and Bahamas https://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=countries
and I am in Canada and will be an 11-year CoCoRaHS participant in a few days...

Rather than editing my VP2/Cumulus rain data during winter snow and melt like Ron does, I just accept what my VP2 reports and manually record snow and precipitation through the CoCoRaHS program (and now added in CumulusMX)

My only issue is right-hand doesn't know the world map

Enjoy,
Paul