Rain measurement

[LMichaels]

So the other night we were predicted to get quite a lot of rain. Wife decided to use a jelly jar as a rain gauge So she put this out on our patio table on the deck.
The first night I showed about 1.5" but night before last it seemed like Noah was out there. SO would the measure I show actually be how much rain we got? Not sure a jelly jar would sub for an actual rain gauge

 

[DuaneMac]

Obviously, it’s not that accurate but at least you get an idea of how much you had. I have this one, it’s the one CoCoRaHS recommends. It works the same as it’s
8” big brother that the NWS uses. They both measure in .01” increments.

 

[ChuckO]

It's not just a jelly jar, it's a Looney Tunes Collector Series Jelly Jar. That has to make it legit

 

[Anne M.]

Not accurate, but indicative
Remember 1 mm equals 1 litre per square meter (if the cup has straight sides)

 

[Bob Bailey]

So the other night we were predicted to get quite a lot of rain. Wife decided to use a jelly jar as a rain gauge So she put this out on our patio table on the deck.
The first night I showed about 1.5" but night before last it seemed like Noah was out there. SO would the measure I show actually be how much rain we got? Not sure a jelly jar would sub for an actual rain gauge

View attachment 54686

I've looked at several different rain gauges and most appear to have a mouth that's considerably larger than the tube. Anyone know why?

 

[RichPB (richlife)]

I've been using a cheap 1" diameter 5" rain gauge from Lowe's, etc. for years. Seem to work well and accurately. Don't buy the ones with a glass tube if it may freeze -- they can expand and crack. I've found plastic replacement tubes on Amazon for like $1-2. Be sure to place them so that they won't get splash back for a surrnounding surface -- spray adds to the volume.

 

[DuaneMac]

I've looked at several different rain gauges and most appear to have a mouth that's considerably larger than the tube. Anyone know why?

 

[Karl Quist]

So the other night we were predicted to get quite a lot of rain. Wife decided to use a jelly jar as a rain gauge So she put this out on our patio table on the deck.
The first night I showed about 1.5" but night before last it seemed like Noah was out there. SO would the measure I show actually be how much rain we got? Not sure a jelly jar would sub for an actual rain gauge

Giving you a 'Like" for the Looney Tunes jar.

 

[RichPB (richlife)]

@DuaneMac , Good answer, but not really true. SOME may work that way but I have one that has an open 2-3 times the base (no tube per se) and one that is only a 1" tube. I've never compared them <shrug>, though I may now. Am I happy with my $5 rain gauge vs a $38 one? Yes. Do I care about hundredths vs tenth? No, not me.

 

[DuaneMac]

You’re right, I don’t either! I got it because my granddaughter’s science class was learning about weather. She was tasked with tracking rainfall, even just trace amounts. My “weather rock” works just fine for me! If it’s wet, it rained, if it’s white it snowed, if you can’t see it, it snowed a lot!

 

[ChuckO]

Giving you a 'Like" for the Looney Tunes jar.

If it were a Jurassic Park/World Jam Jar, it would be off the scale

 

[Bob Bailey]

View attachment 54750
View attachment 54751

Interesting. Thanks!