Ask the meteorologist: How to measure rain, snow and sleet
To ensure accurate precipitation measurements, the NWS has established guidelines for measuring and reporting snow and sleet totals and converting them into liquid equivalents.
Posted — UpdatedThe National Weather Service sets guidelines to measure snow and sleet
Sleet's special challenge
Sleet, often referred to as "ice pellets," poses a unique challenge in precipitation measurement due to its distinct characteristics. Unlike rain or snow, sleet consists of small, frozen pellets that can accumulate differently in rain gauges.
The Durham dilemma
In the case mentioned, the resident's rain gauge registered a water level of 3.5 inches after allowing the sleet to melt. This seemed unusually high, considering the reported 0.95 inches of precipitation at RDU. Several factors could contribute to this disparity:
Measuring precipitation accurately, especially when it involves various forms of precipitation, is a complex task. The NWS guidelines provide valuable insights into how meteorologists calculate total precipitation from rain, snow and sleet. While the resident's observation of 3.5 inches of liquid equivalent may seem unusual compared to the reported data, localized variations and the unique properties of sleet can lead to such discrepancies. It's a reminder of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of weather, where accurate measurement remains a challenging yet vital endeavor.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.