Snow can be one of the simplest, and yet is generally one of the most
misunderstood weather elements to observe. To correctly measure and report
snow depth, you need to measure several locations in open exposed areas
and average these measurements to get the accurate snow depth. If you want
to get the greatest depth be sure that this is reported as a drift, not
the snow depth. If you took a number of measurements and found the average
to be 10 inches with the greatest 19 inches, report snow depth of 10 inches
with drifts to 19 inches. Like we said, simple but easy to misunderstand
SNOW
1 INCH OR MORE PER 12 HOURS
SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN
WHEN TRAVEL BECOMES HAZARDOUS, REPORT ICE ACCUMULATION IF POSSIBLE
NON-CONVECTIVE HIGH WINDS
MEASURED OR ESTIMATED WINDS OVER 50 MPH, ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY
WIND
RAIN
1 INCH OF RAIN DURING AN EVENT
FLOODING
WHEN FLOODING THREATENS ROADS OR PROPERTY
Other Seasons Reporting
In other seasons, events such as Severe Thunderstorms, Floods, and Tornadoes call for different criteria to be reported. Here is what we are looking for to meet "SEVERE" criteria.
WINDS
WINDS IN EXCESS OR 58 MPH
HAIL
3/4 INCH (DIME SIZE) OR LARGER
(NOTICE...DO NOT USE "MARBLE SIZED" DESCRIPTIONS!!)
(YOUR MARBLE MAY BE BIGGER THAN MINE!!)
RAINFALL
1 INCH PER HOUR OR 2 INCHES OR MORE IN
24 HOURS
ANY DAMAGE DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER CAUSES
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE SEVERE REPORTS IF WHAT YOU ARE OBSERVING IS NOT SEVERE! AFTER YOU HAVE GIVEN A SEVERE REPORT, KEEP NET CONTROL ADVISED AS TO THE CHANGES OBSERVED.