Photo: CoCoRaHS, NWS

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - April 7, 2026

The National Weather Service (NWS) is looking for local volunteers to join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network, also known as CoCoRaHS, as part of the international “Rain Gauge Rally,” a month-long competition held every April where states and countries compete to recruit the highest number of new observers. While Minnesota has historically secured the "traditional count" title for many years, the NWS Duluth office said that other states have been getting closer to matching or overtaking the record. 

Related: Local volunteers partner with the Soil and Water Conservation District to fill weather data gaps across Cook County’s remote areas

A specific need in Cook County and Grand Portage

The need for new observers is particularly high in Cook County and Grand Portage. NWS Duluth Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joseph J. Moore explained to Boreal Community Media the challenges our geographical region poses when it comes to weather forecasting, amplifying the need for local observers. 

Aside from human observers, the NWS has "few other ways to truly know about the on-the-ground precipitation and snowfall," Moore said, before adding that while radar in Duluth can be used for estimations, challenges can pop up the further away a location is.  

"At the distance of Cook County, it [radar] views elevations ranging from 5,000' (Tofte/Lutsen) to 8,000' (Sea Gull Lake, Eagle Mtn, Grand Marais) up to 13,000' (Grand Portage) above the ground. Estimating rainfall amounts becomes more challenging the further the location is from the radar, and CoCoRaHS observers provide us with ground truth."

Moore added that while around a dozen certified automated weather stations exist throughout the county and provide real-time measurements, they "often struggle to measure heavy rainfall rates accurately, and very few in the region can precisely capture the liquid equivalent of snowfall."

Beyond daily precipitation, local observers serve as the primary source of data for measuring the snow water equivalent (the actual amount of liquid water held within the snowpack). According to Moore, human observations, specifically snowfall totals and the snow water equivalent, are the only reliable way to record these measurements, which are needed to accurately predict the timing and severity of spring flooding.

When it comes to local volunteers, Moore said they "greatly appreciate the number of volunteers along the Lake Superior shoreline," and more are especially needed inland. This is due to the unique hydrology of Cook County; while most precipitation flows toward Lake Superior, the far northwest section of the county resides within the Rainy River basin. 

Moore shared that observers in these upstream locations are essential for predicting water levels on Rainy Lake and surrounding areas, stating, "Observers who live inland and further upstream of rivers and streams help us provide a better prediction of flooding."

 Cook County river basins, courtesy of the NWS Duluth.

Joining CoCoRaHS is set up to be a low-barrier commitment, requiring approximately five minutes each morning to record and share reports. However, for those looking to start more simply, Moore shared that "even if observers just want to start with measuring snowfall, that's OK too."

To ensure data consistency, the NWS requires the use of a specific 4-inch diameter rain gauge, which typically costs around $45. 

For those living within the Rainy River watershed (around Poplar Lake and inland on the Gunflint Trail, see map above), a free rain gauge is available. According to NWS Duluth Meteorologist and DLH Hydrology Program Co-Manager Ketzel Levens, this is made possible through a partnership with the Koochiching County Soil Water Conservation District as an incentive for "folks in the very rural and undersampled area to join the program."

To volunteer or learn more about the April Rain Gauge Rally, residents can visit cocorahs.org.

For those looking to get involved even further, the NWS Duluth is offering free Skywarn Spotter Training classes. These 90-minute classes are taught by meteorologists and focus on identifying severe weather features such as wall clouds and shelf clouds. These reports are important to help the NWS deliver tornado and flash flood warnings.

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Over 20 sessions are available in both in-person and virtually across NE Minnesota. Find the full schedule and registration links at weather.gov/dlh/skywarn or by contacting Meteorologist Bryan Howell at 218-729-0651.