Helpful hints on reporting your observations to the Weather Net

The following is a list of observations we gather for the Weather Net.   Keep in mind we are looking for data observed at or near the time of the net (i.e. just before 7:30 am).

NEW:  IRG Weather Net Tally sheet in PDF format.  Use this to record your observations, one page will hold one month of data.  Includes instructions.

1.   Cloud cover (or "Sky")

Cloud should be reported in 10ths  For example if half the sky is covered with cloud, report it as "five" (as in 5/10ths.)

2. Precipitation (or "Current Weather")

Examples:  "Light rain", "Heavy snow", "Drizzle" etc.  See the list below.  If there is no current precipitation at time of observation, report "No active weather".  If you are unsure of the precipitation type just make your best guess, we will usually be able to tell what type of precipitation you are getting from other reports in the area and our knowledge of the current weather situation.

For Net Controllers:  (Net control stations use precipitation codes when reporting to Environment Canada)  Precipitation should be reported by the net controller with the appropriate code followed by an intensity indicator.  For light intensity the code is followed by a minus sign (-), for heavy intensity the code is followed by a plus sign (+) and for moderate intensity just report the precipitation code.  For example the code for rain is R.  Light rain is coded as R-, heavy rain as R+ and moderate rain as simply R.  Other codes for precipitation follows.  Remember to include the appropriate intensity code with each one.

Reporting codes for use of Net Controllers 

(Participants should use regular plain language words when reporting on-air)

Snowfall intensity rating

For the purposes of METARs or Special Meteorological Reports (SPECI) and automated terminal information service (ATIS) broadcasts, visibility is used to estimate snowfall intensity according to the following guidelines:

• Light: if visibility is ⅝mi. or more
• Moderate: if alone¹ and visibility is reduced to ½ or ⅜ mi.
• Heavy: if alone¹ and visibility is reduced to ¼, ⅛, or 0 mi.

Note (1): “Alone” means no other precipitation and/or obstruction to vision is present.

3.  Obstruction to Visibility - ("Visibility")

Report the visibility in miles.  Your reported visibility should fall into one of the following categories: 

<1/2,   1/2,  1   2,   3,   4,   5,   6,   6+.

Example, "Visibility 2 due to haze".  These are coded (by net control) without an intensity indicator.

Phenomenon Code (for net control)

It should be noted that more than one type of precipitation and/or obstruction to visibility are possible at one time.  For example it is not uncommon to have a mixture of rain, drizzle and fog.  In this case your reported weather could be R-L-F.

4.  Current Temperature

Report the Current temperature in Degrees Celsius to the nearest 0.5C, or whatever your device will report.  No special codes are required.

5.  Precipitation Amounts

Report liquid amounts in millimeters and solid amounts in centimeters.  No special codes are required.  Some excellent videos on measuring and reporting precipitation can be found at cocorahs.org  .

6.  Wind Direction and Speed 

Report the average speed in kilometers per hour if possible, but if you are reporting in miles per hour, knots or Beaufort scale, be sure to indicate if other than km/hr.   Specify the direction, the eight points of the compass are close enough, suhc as "West" or "South-East" . No special codes are required. 

Some example reports:  "Wind North 20" would mean 20 km/hr average speed.  If you have any significant gusting winds, estimate them, and report in the format,  "Wind North 20, gusting to 50" for example.

To help estimate or convert wind speed, you can use the Beaufort Scale chart below.

7. Maximium / Minimum Temperature  ("High and Low" or "Gradient")

Report the maximum and minimum temperatures in the last 24 hour period if you have this ability.  See the caution below about "Yesterday" data from electronic weather stations.

Some helpful tips

Having the  information in this same order as the Net Controller form is especially helpful.  This will make it easier and quicker for the Net Control Station (NCS) to record the information and pass it on to the forecast office.  Using codes is not necessary, plain language is encouraged by participants.  Report your data slowly enough and with pauses that the net controller can keep up.

It's always a good idea to start with "Here is the report from ... (your location) ".  This allows the NCS to know where to put the data, and remember, we have lots of listeners out there who "want to know!"

We do not routinely record barometer, humidity or any other observations not listed below, but if you do wish to report them for information, report them at the end of all the other data, and the net controller may report them as comments in the report if significant.

Remember, the NCS is using a form and marking down your data, either on paper or computer screen.   Giving your observations in the same order as on his / her form really, really helps and will avoid errors, and avoid having to repeat the information.  It's also helpful to state the parameter, then the data, such as "Rainfall in last 24 hours, 25.5 mm" instead of "We had 25.5 mm of rain".   This gives the net controller a "heads-up" of where to start entering the data, instead of trying to remember the number 25.5  AND THEN finding the place to put it.

Special note to those using automatic or electronic weather stations:

"Last 24 hours":  When you report for the Weather Net, we are looking for data for the last 24 hours, at or about 7:30 am.  Note that many electronic weather stations might display "Yesterday" data.   The device's "Yesterday" may actually be a period from midnight to midnight for the previous calendar day, not the last 24 hours.  Some stations allow you to change the default reset time.  If you can, change your station to reset just before the Weather Net so your "yesterday" high and low temperatures, rainfall, etc  is actually data reflecting the last 24 hours at net time.  Some stations may have a separate display for "Last 24 hours", so use that data instead of "Yesterday".  In any case, let the net controller know if the data is not the last 24 hours as of net time.

Snowfall:  Also note that electronic rain gauges are not useful for recording snowfall.  Snow and ice will build up, maybe trickle through the funnel, until perhaps weeks later, when your device will proclaim a "downpour" on a sunny, warm spring day.  Some devices have optional heaters which will at least give you "snow:water equivalent" (SWE), melting snow as it falls.

ESTIMATING WIND SPEED - THE BEAUFORT SCALE CONVERSION CHART