I have both the ‘official’ CoCoRaHS analog rain gauge and a digital gauge for measuring rain. The CoCoRaHS gauge is the only one allowed for reporting rainfall totals to CoCoRaHS or the NWS. Rain is measured in .01 (hundreths) of an inch, anything less than that is considered a trace.
The official gauge is a tube within a tube with a funnel on top. The inner tube holds one inch of rain (I believe the NWS gauge holds 2 inches). If it rains more that one inch the outer tube catches the excess which can be poured back into the inner tube for measurement. The most I measured this year was 3.26 inches on 08/29.
I have found that my digital gauge generally reads a tenth or two tenths higher than the analog gauge. I am sure this is due to calibration issues during heavy rain events and the use of a tipping bucket rather than a stationary gauge with non movable parts.
The earliest quantitative rain gauge seems to be credited to a king in Korea called King Sejong who lived from 1397 to 1450. One of his greatest goals as king was to make his people literate, so not only did he invent a rain gauge, but more importantly, he invented a language and movable type for that language.
He decided that instead of digging into the soil to check for moisture, it would be better to have a standardized container about 30cm in depth and 14cm in diameter that stood on a pillar to measure the rainfall. His standard of measurement however is not known. These containers were to help villagers determine their potential harvest, to give him a better idea of how much the farmers should be taxed. So these standard containers were distributed to each village. The gauge was invented in the fourth month of 1441 according to records. The invention of the rain gauge in Korea came two hundred years before inventor Christopher Wren created a rain gauge (tipping bucket rain gauge circa 1662) in Europe.
We have expectations of another unseasonably warm and dry day for all of Michigan including the eastern half of the U.P. with highs in the upper 60s north and 70s south. We expect this record warmth to last into Tuesday before the bottom falls out once again. Even with the cooler air in place next week we will be above normal temp wise with no snow in the immediate forecast…
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I just got done putting some outside Christmas lights out. This is the first time I have put up the outside lights in short sleeves. The official high looks to have been 73 and that is a new record for the date. But here at my house I had a high of 76 and I can tell you it was warm putting the lights up. I told my wife they may be up until April. At this time it is clear here and 73.
Slim
Since somebody is slipping on posting the fantasy maps, here it is. Enjoy!
https://mail.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2020110812&time=72&var=ASNOW&hour=384
Thanks.
Looks like another record high for GR today with the temp up to at least 73. What an incredible stretch of November weather!
Yes. That is I was just going to post it thanks
Slim
On Saturday warm air covered the entire state of Michigan. Marquette reached 75° on Friday – the warmest temperature ever recorded there in the month of November. The low temp. of 55° Saturday AM was the warmest low temperature ever in the month of November. Other daily high temperature records set Saturday: Sault Ste. Marie 67°, Houghton Lake 68°, Gaylord 71°, Saginaw 72°, Pellston 73°, Traverse City, Alpena 75, Grand Rapids 71 and Muskegon 67. At the current time even with cloudy skies it is 71 out at the airport and it is 72 here at my house. Today is… Read more »
This sure has been a record setting first week of November. The month started with a strong cold front on the 1st that dropped temperatures all day long and Grand Rapids seen it first (and so far measurable snow fall) and then a sudden warm up. Over the last 5 days highs have been 65,72,64,70 and 71 and the departure for November after the first 7 days is +7.4. And the next 3 days will see record or near record highs.
Slim
This is one incredible streak! And compared with a year ago, temps were barely getting above freezing then. Even more impressive is how far North the warm air extends. Records are going to be blown away. The way it’s going this will be another one of those years we will be mowing into December.
This has been an incredible and inspiring weekend! Let’s keep the rock n roll party going! Golf anyone?
It has will go down in history as a record setting setting weekend but a record setting first week of November.
Slim