November 17, 2006

Dear Snow Spotter,

Thank you for your reports last year! It was an odd winter with both of
our significant snowfalls in December. The first occurred December
8^th^, when four to eight inches of snow fell in western Ohio and
eastern Indiana and one to three inches fell across northern Kentucky
and the Scioto River Valley. The second event was a week later on
December 15^th^ when two to five inches of heavy wet snow fell in the
morning across west central Ohio and east central Indiana.

Your snowfall reports for these two events were plotted on maps that are
attached to the letter. Note, you can see color copies of these images
by viewing this letter on the web at
([www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/spotterpage/spotter.htm](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/spotterpage/spotter.htm)).
Your timely reports throughout the winter helped the Wilmington, Ohio
National Weather Service (NWS) provide accurate and timely forecasts.

If you are new to the NWS Snow Spotter Network -- WELCOME!! We
appreciate your willingness to provide valuable winter weather reports.

The reason for having a snow spotter network is to provide our
forecasters with near real-time snowfall information (i.e. ground
truth). As with severe weather, our forecasters can infer what is
currently going on or what will happen in the near future using various
tools (radar, satellite, model data, etc.). However, knowing how much
snow or ice that has actually fallen ("ground truth information") allows
us to monitor the progress of a storm and make critical decisions
concerning advisories and warnings for a particular winter storm.

The snowfall information collected is also used in two other ways.
First, it is used to provide a summary of what actually happened for all
of our customers and partners (state and local officials, media, and
you). Lastly, this ground truth information will be used to help our
meteorologists evaluate their past forecasts, which will help improve
their future winter storm forecasts. **This is all thanks to you!!!**

As a snow spotter we would like you to **report in real-time** the
following information:

+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| ## What to Report                     | #                            |
|                                       | [When to Report]{.underline} |
+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| -   **[\>]{.underline} 1"** of        | -   Anytime                  |
|     **snow** per hour                 |                              |
|                                       | -   Preferably between 5-8   |
| -   **[\>]{.underline} 1"** of        |     am/pm                    |
|     **snow** during the past 24 hours |                              |
|                                       | -   Preferably between 5-8   |
| -   **Total snow depth**              |     am/pm                    |
|                                       |                              |
| -   **When you first measure 2"\...4" | -   Anytime                  |
|     and 6"**                          |                              |
|                                       | -   Anytime                  |
| -   **Any freezing rain/drizzle**     |                              |
|                                       | -   Anytime                  |
| -   **[\>]{.underline} ¼"** of **ice  |                              |
|     accumulation**                    | -   Anytime                  |
|                                       |                              |
| -   **Thunder/lightning** associated  |                              |
|     with snow/sleet/freezing rain     |                              |
+---------------------------------------+------------------------------+

**Last Fall we initiated a web-based reporting program called
eSpotter.** eSpotter is a system that allows spotters to easily submit
winter or severe weather reports online. The use of the system is
currently available for trained spotters and emergency managers. Last
year we received nearly half of our reports via eSpotter.

If you have not signed up yet and want to, then go to
<http://espotter.weather.gov/> and click on **New to eSpotter?** \[
[Register Here](http://espotter.weather.gov/register/) \]. Once you've
registered then you will get a reply within 10 business days with a
temporary password. Note, once you can log on with a password click on
Create a Report in the top left hand corner. This will take you to a
severe weather report form. Near the top there is a clickable link for a
winter weather report form.

If you don't have online access to eSpotter, then feel free to call our
*unlisted* number 1-800-899-2748. On occasion, we may give you a call
during a snow event. We will only call during the times that you
provided to us on your Severe Weather Spotter application.

![](media/image1.wmf){width="6.519444444444445in"
height="4.971527777777778in"}

**Figure 1 --** Schematic showing how to measure snow.

**Below are some tips for measuring snow:**

Measuring snow is a rough art and can be very subjective. A lot depends
on frequency and location of your measurement. You want a cold flat
surface that is somewhat protected from the wind, but not so protected
that snowfall measurements will be inaccurate. On the web at
[www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/spotterpage/spotter.htm](http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/spotterpage/spotter.htm)
under training you will find a PowerPoint presentation on how to measure
snow along with a brief tutorial on the same subject. Below are some
helpful hints for measuring snow. Figure 1 will provide some visual
clues for these hints.

-   **Surface**:

    -   First choose a convenient spot away from the obstacles such as a
        house, garage, shed, fence, large bushes, and trees, ideally
        about 10-12 feet from a 6 foot fence. These objects aid in the
        piling up (drifting) of snow near them. The ideal spot will
        usually be in the middle of your back or front yard away from
        trees.

    -   Ideally a snowboard (simply a piece of plywood cut in about a 2
        ft square and painted white), an outdoor table, or a deck are
        the best measuring surfaces. If you use a snowboard on the
        ground, then a flag or some other marker will help you locate it
        during snowy weather.

        -   Pavement is OK if it's cold (below 32 F), but should not be
            used under milder conditions due to melting.

        -   Grass is too uneven\...especially in the fall and after
            green up in the spring. Grass may be used in the middle of
            winter, if it's dead and not puffy.

        -   Bare ground is OK. Do not mistake an ice layer or crusted
            snow as the "ground".

        -   Picnic table and autos are fine if winds are light.

    -   If possible, clean off the surface you are measuring for your
        next measurement. If measuring on a surface that already has a
        covering of snow, then subtract the old snow from the new.

-   **Wind/Drifting:** If drifting is a problem, take several
    measurements and average them. Bare ground will give you a zero
    reading. Do not include the largest drifts.

-   **Frequency:** Do not measure [more]{.underline} than once an hour.
    Hourly measurements will be extremely helpful when snowfall rates
    are exceptional (1\" or more per hour). In general, once every
    several hours (3 to 6) is preferable, unless the snow is melting.

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-   **Total snowfall:** Report to the nearest tenth of an inch.

-   **Snow Depth:** Report to the nearest whole inch. Roundup at 0.5
    inches.

-   [***The optimal conditions** for measuring snow are to find a piece
    of wood (wooden picnic table or piece of plywood) in an open area
    where snow will fall unhindered and yet not drift from blustery
    winds. After measuring the snow, clean off the piece of wood for
    your next reading.*]{.underline}

**Below are some tips for measuring ice:**

-   Measure on an outside surface such as a fence, picnic table, car,
    tree limb, etc. Make sure that there is no internal heat source.

-   When measuring, use a ruler and your eyes to estimate how thick the
    ice has accumulated.

-   Do not measure the length of icicles.

Thanks again for volunteering! Your time and effort is greatly
appreciated. Feel free to call me at 1-800-899-2748 if you have any
questions.

Mary Jo Parker

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service

Wilmington, Ohio

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