Accurate snow measurement is vital for weather reporting and helps meteorologists understand storm impacts. While snow events may be rare in the South, being prepared ensures that every inch is recorded correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to measuring snow, even for first-timers:

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies Start with the right tools. A ruler or yardstick works best for measuring depth. Use a 24” x 24” whiteboard as your measurement surface and a flag to mark its location.

Step 2: Choose the Perfect Spot Find an open area away from obstacles like trees, fences, or buildings. However, ensure the spot is somewhat shielded from strong winds, as drifting snow can skew measurements.

Step 3: Set Up Before Snow Begins Place your whiteboard flat on the ground before the first flake falls. Use the flag to mark its location so it’s easy to find once the snow accumulates.

Step 4: Take Accurate Measurements Use your ruler to measure the snow depth to the nearest tenth of an inch. Clean off the board after each reading and reposition it on top of the snow for continued tracking throughout the event.

Step 5: Measure as Soon as Snow Stops Snow can start melting, settling, or drifting shortly after it stops falling. To get the most accurate readings, measure immediately after the snowfall ends.

Step 6: Report Your Data Your measurements matter! Submit your snow totals to the National Weather Service through their website, social media, or email. Your contributions help improve weather forecasts and support your community.

By following these steps, you can provide valuable snow data and ensure that every rare snow event in the South is well-documented.