This is your chance to become part of an important network of weather-observing volunteers.
CoCoRaHS stands for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network. It began at the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University after the devastating flash flood in Fort Collins, CO, in 1998.

Today, CoCoRaHS observations are used by the National Weather Service, private meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, local utilities, insurance adjusters, engineers, ranchers, farmers, climatologists, teachers, students, and many others.

The main goals of CoCoRaHS are to: 1) Provide accurate, high-quality precipitation data for many end users on a timely basis; 2) Increase the density of precipitation data available throughout the country by encouraging volunteer weather observing; 3) Encourage citizens to have fun participating in meteorological science and increase awareness about weather; and 4) Provide enrichment activities in water and weather resources for teachers, educators, and the community at large.

The only requirement is an interest in weather and the ability to report rain, snow, and hail accumulations daily from your home. There are no age restrictions. Participants need access to the Internet and an approved rain gauge.

Most gauges sold at hardware stores, Walmart, etc., are not approved. You can view examples of approved gauges here: http://lakeanna.online/rain.

These gauges are often available on Amazon at lower prices.

Automated or smaller/skinnier gauges are not approved because they underreport rainfall during heavier events. Numerous studies have confirmed that a 4” diameter gauge provides the most reliable measurements.

Once you become a CoCoRaHS volunteer, you’ll be assigned an observer ID and asked to take daily backyard measurements of rain, snow, and hail. The preferred observation time is around 7:00 a.m., but reports between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. are accepted. If you’re away on vacation or business, you can submit a multi-day precipitation report when you return.

Data is entered online through a web form or the mobile app. Once submitted, you can view your observations alongside data from other volunteers in the region.

Currently, there are three observers in Orange County, two in Louisa County, and twelve in Spotsylvania County. Some are active reporters, while others are inactive.

My goal is to add another 5–10 active gauges in Orange and Louisa Counties, and increase coverage near Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County. More gauges within the Lake Anna drainage basin will improve lake management, since precipitation data directly translates into runoff levels.

By providing daily observations, you help fill in a vital piece of the weather puzzle. Your reports benefit not only scientists and agencies but also your neighbors. Plus, you’ll connect with others who share a strong interest in weather.

To connect with Michael Eckert, a certified Weather Ready Nation Ambassador, join the Lake Anna Weather facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/238768427602182, or email [email protected].

Michael Eckert

I grew up an Air Force Brat. Traveled the country and lived in Georgia, Maine, New York, Hawaii and Oklahoma.

I fell in love with the weather in Oklahoma. My father was transferred to Tinker AFB in 1973. While in Temporary housing (a mobile home, which is the standard in Oklahoma) I experienced my first severe thunderstorm with strong winds and hail the size of baseballs. The next day I was in the base library looking up books on weather. The rest is history.

I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology. The first two years we took Calculus, Differential equations, Physics, Chemistry and Computer science classes with the Engineering Students. It was a grind. My degree is actually from the College of Engineering. The last 2-3 year’s focus was on Meteorology including Observational networks (Satellite, Radar, Surface), Physics, Thermodynamics, Dynamics, Synoptic, Winter Weather, Severe Weather and Climatology.

My first job out of college was with a small forecasting company in Oklahoma City. I was immediately put on TV (OETA) and Radio (WKY) as their broadcast Meteorologist. After two years in broadcasting, I decided to pursue the National Weather Service route and got a position in Toledo, OH as an intern. After a couple of years, I was promoted to a forecaster position at the Cleveland Forecast office. I quickly moved into the Weather Preparedness position and was responsible for all the preparedness activities in the state of Ohio.

In 1992 I decided to pursue other forecast opportunities and moved to the Meteorological Operations Division of the National Meteorological Center in Washington, DC. This group is now called WPC (Weather Prediction Center). There I fine-tuned my forecasting of Synoptic Weather with my focus on Heavy Convective Rainfall and Winter Storms, under the supervision of Dr. Louis Uccellini. He has written several books on East Coast Winter storms. I was promoted to a Senior Branch Forecast position during my tenure at MOD. Part of my job was to teach weather classes at COMET (Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training).

In 2012 I was given the opportunity to start up a new weather support group with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in Warrenton, VA at the ATCSSC (Air Traffic Control System Command Center). The ATCSCC is where the FAA identifies solutions to air traffic inefficiencies in the NAS (National Air Space) for the CONUS (Continental United State). Weather impacts are the biggest impact on Aviation with yearly losses over 20 billion dollars. My job was to help lower these inefficiencies/costs by providing weather impact briefings and forecasts in order to keep the air planes moving as safely and efficiently as possible.

I retired in 2022 and now am running Lake Anna Weather, LLC.