CoCoRaHS at EPZ

CoCoRaHS - The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network

CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow).

CoCoRaHS has been around for a while, but recruitment efforts in Far West Texas have been minimal -- until NOW!

The El Paso Area National Weather Service office is looking for volunteer rainfall observers. All you need is a plastic rain gauge and an internet connection! Anyone can join, but we are especially interested in observers in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in Texas.

Click here to see how El Paso's CoCoRaHS network compares to Las Cruces. We have some catching up to do!

What can CoCoRaHS Data Do?

Click here to see detailed precipitation maps from 28-29 September 2012.

How to Join CoCoRaHS
1.) Learn about CoCoRaHS.	Quick Overview ("Localized" slideshow for NWS El Paso) [PDF] About the Network (cocorahs.org) General FAQ (cocorahs.org) CoCoRaHS Texas Page (cocorahs.org) CoCoRaHS New Mexico Page (cocorahs.org)
2.) Sign-up and Purchase a Rain Gauge!	Signing up for CoCoRaHS - HowTo Guide [PDF] Click Here for the CoCoRaHS Sign-up Form. Obtain a standard 4" Diameter Rain Gauge. (Smaller diameter gauges "miss" a lot of precipitation!) Some sources for CoCoRaHS-approved rain gauges are listed in the Sign-Up form.
3.) Watch Training Videos, Slideshows, or attend a live training session.	Online Training: Training Slide Shows (no audio) Training Videos Upcoming Live Training Sessions: None are scheduled at this time.
4.) Wait for precipitation, then report!	Be sure to check keep your gauge clear of any debris, dead insects, etc, especially during long dry periods! If you're feeling "rusty" on how to report -- please refer to the "How-To Guides" listed below.

CoCoRaHS How-To Guides
Data Collection	How-To Install a Rain Gauge [PDF] How-To Measure Rainfall [PDF] How-To Measure Snowfall [PDF]
Data Entry	How-To Send a Regular Report on CoCoRaHS.org [PDF] How-To Enter Multiple Days' Zero-Precip Reports [PDF] How-To Enter Data After You've Been Away [PDF] Data Entry FAQ (cocorahs.org) Snow Reporting FAQ (cocorahs.org)

Contact Information - Questions
If you have ANY questions about joining CoCoRaHS, how to properly place a rain gauge, how to measure precipitation, please contact Mike Hardiman, El Paso Area Regional Coordinator at
El Paso, TX Regional Coordinator (El Paso, Hudspeth Counties)			Mike Hardiman, NWS El Paso
New Mexico State Coordinator			David DuBois, NM Climate Center / NMSU
New Mexico Local Coordinator - Dona Ana and Luna County			Alberta Morgan

How CoCoRaHS Data is Used
Daily CoCoRaHS Rainfall Table for the Borderland A listing of CoCoRaHS reports received at the National Weather Service office in Santa Teresa. This product updates each morning at 7:30, 8:30, and 11:15 am MST.	Latest
AHPS Precipitation Analysis / River Forecast Centers Nation-Wide CoCoRaHS used for national precip dataset, used in River Forecasts and Flash Flood Guidance.	Latest
Coming Soon! Daily Precipitation Maps for the Borderland. (See an example from Austin/San Antonio on the right).	Example

Latest Active CoCoRaHS Stations Map

This page was last updated 04/27/2012.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office