Measuring Rainfall

We had some measurable rain over the last few days and at times the wind produced more of a horizontal rainfall. For most folks this kind of weather is not a pleasant experience. If you are a weather enthusiast trying to measure the precipitation in your backyard, a strong wind will create some inaccuracy. Generally, the higher the wind speed the larger the discrepancy in the measurement. To accurately measure rainfall the National Weather Service uses a 'gated' screen which circles the measurement site and partially blocks the wind. This wind screen will minimize strong updrafts that can distort the trajectory of a raindrop. The other problems to consider on unprotected sites are tree cover, buildings, and objects that could potentially block the path of precipitation into a rain gauge.