The National Weather Service (NWS), emergency management, and public safety agencies rely on more than radar and forecast models to understand what is happening during severe weather. Programs like Skywarn and CoCoRaHS remain essential tools for emergency management and public safety operations — and why the rain gauges those observers use matter so much.
What is Skywarn?
Skywarn is a volunteer program coordinated by the National Weather Service that trains individuals to recognize and report hazardous weather. During severe weather, these reports can include tornado sightings, funnel clouds, hail size, damaging winds, and storm-related damage. Where radar can detect rotation and estimate hail potential, it cannot always confirm what is happening at ground level. That is where spotters become critical.
What is CoCoRaHS?
CoCoRaHS — the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network — is a volunteer-based program that focuses on measuring and reporting precipitation. CoCoRaHS observers take daily rainfall measurements and submit them to a national database used by meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, and researchers.
Why CoCoRaHS Matters to Emergency Management
Flooding is one of the most common and costly weather hazards, and rainfall amounts can vary dramatically across short distances. CoCoRaHS observers fill in those gaps by providing accurate rainfall totals that help emergency management track rainfall trends, verify flood impacts, and better understand which areas are most vulnerable.
Why Accurate Rain Gauges Matter
CoCoRaHS requires observers to use a standardized 4" diameter rain gauge that measures to 0.01" precision. The Stratus® Professional Precision Rain Gauge meets that standard and is endorsed by both NOAA and CoCoRaHS — making it the trusted choice for serious weather observers, gardeners, and outdoor enthusiasts who need accurate localized rainfall data.
For home gardeners, the same accuracy that helps emergency managers track flooding helps you make smarter watering decisions. Pair Stratus with Tomato Crater to direct measured rainfall directly to your plant roots, and use Stake It to anchor your gauge post securely without digging.
How to Get Involved
Skywarn training is offered regularly through the National Weather Service. CoCoRaHS is open to anyone willing to take consistent precipitation measurements and submit reports. Volunteers do not need to be meteorologists — they simply need a willingness to learn and report what they observe accurately.
Learn More About Precision Rainfall Measurement
- Measuring Rainfall for Smarter Garden Irrigation
- Why Accurate Rainfall Measurement Matters
- Who is CoCoRaHS and Why Do They Recommend Stratus?
Shop Stratus® Professional Precision Rain Gauge →
Also available at: Walmart · Amazon · Tractor Supply · Wayfair · Zoro
Related Garden System Brands: Stratus | Tomato Crater | Stake It | Browse All FLI Products Brands →
