Rain and Snow Gauge Comparisons

Abstract

The performance of four types of rain gauges and three methods of measuring snow-fall were compared over a 10 year period. Under the conditions of the test the United States Weather Bureau's (now National Weather Service, NOAA) standard precipitation gauge proved most reliable for measuring rain at all intensities, whereas the Meteorological Service of Canada's (now Atmospheric Environment Service of Canada) Nipher gauge was superior to other snow gauges for measuring snowfall.The Atmospheric Environment Service of Canada's standard rain gauge sometimes seriously undercaught in times of intense rain. Wind velocity did not seem to be the cause, but rather the intensity of the rain itself.Under blizzard conditions both the snow board and the United States National Weather Service's Alter shielded gauge proved unsuitable for measuring snowfall.