Wake up to snowfall in Whatcom County this morning? Here’s how to measure it
The winter season is coming to an end in just a few weeks but snow is still falling in Whatcom County.
If you want to see just how much has fallen overnight in your own backyard, the National Weather Service has these tips for measuring accurately.
All you need is a ruler.
1. Find a level place to measure snow.
The goal is to avoid an area where drifting or melting may have occurred. This can skew the measurement.
If you have a lot of snow drifts, take measurements in several spots away from larger drifts. Calculate the average of these measurements.
Spots sheltered from the weather, such as those close to buildings or under trees, should be avoided, according to the weather service.
2. Slide the ruler into the snow until it reaches the ground surface.
Make sure the ruler is perpendicular to the ground. A flat surface such as a picnic table or deck is recommended when using a ruler to measure.
Snow can be measured directly on the ground, but this should be limited to areas of short grass to maintain accuracy.
3. Read the value on the ruler to the nearest tenth of an inch.
For example, 3.34 inches of snow should be read as 3.3 inches. Keep track of all measurements for the duration of the storm so you can report the total amount to the weather service.
4. Send a report to the National Weather Service.
This can be done by tweeting their local account. The National Weather Service asks people to include a photo, location and time of measurement in their report.
This story was originally published February 27, 2023 at 9:37 AM.
