Volunteers are needed to participate in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) in several western states. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in Nevada, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Wyoming or one of the other participating states, go to http://www.cocorahs.org. and on the left, click on Join CoCoRaHS.

At this time, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington are not part of this network. However it would be great to get these states on board! If you are interested, please contact Nolan Doesken or Henry Reges.

Anyone can participate; young, old, and in-between. The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions, and a desire to learn more about how the weather can affect and impact our lives.

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). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web site, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. It began in Colorado in 1998, and currently has over 2500 observers in 16 states.

CoCoRaHS in Nevada is a new project starting March 1, 2007, and we are looking for observers and sponsors to help with this unique opportunity. The NV state coordinators at the Western Regional Climate Center, located at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV, are also working with the National Weather Service in Reno, Las Vegas and Elko.

To learn more about CoCoRaHS and what is needed to participate, visit the CoCoRaHS web site at http://www.cocorahs.org. Click on the state to see more information about CoCoRaHS in Nevada and other states.

If you are interested in joining CoCoRaHS in Nevada, please email us at cocorahs@dri.edu or call us at 775-674-7010.