Contact Us

University of Illinois Extension serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties

Main Office (Bureau County)
850 Thompson St,
Becker Professional Suites,
Princeton, IL 61356
Phone: 815-875-2878
FAX: 815-875-2870
Email:uie-blmp@illinois.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

Branch Office (LaSalle County)
1689 North 31st Road,
Suite 2
Ottawa, IL 61350
Phone: 815-433-0707
FAX: 815-433-5454
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

Branch Office (Marshall County)
509 Front Street,
Suite 4
Henry, IL 61537
Phone: 309-364-2356
FAX: 309-364-2804
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

News Release

Weather Observers Needed in Bureau and Surrounding Counties CoCoRaHS Training Session Oct 10th in Princeton, IL

August 3, 2012

Weather in northern Illinois can vary greatly, and a volunteer weather program is looking for weather observers to measure precipitation from their own backyards across Bureau and surrounding counties. The requirements for participation are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions and a desire to learn more about how the weather can affect and impact our lives. In addition, observers are required to purchase and use the CoCoRaHS standard four-inch diameter rain gauge to measure precipitation. Cost of the rain gauge is approximately $27.00. Internet access is required to enter the reports.


The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network is a grassroots national program of backyard weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail, and snow) in their local communities.

High-quality observations made by CoCoRaHS volunteers are used by a wide variety of organizations and individuals, including the National Weather Service (NWS), other meteorologists, hydrologists, emergency managers, city utilities (for issues related to water supply, conservation, and stormwater), insurance adjusters, U.S. Department of Agriculture, engineers, mosquito-control specialists, farmers, outdoor and recreational interests, teachers, students, and neighbors in the community.

"Most of us are aware that rainfall can be highly variable not only from county to county but even within individual communities," says Bill Morris, Illinois Regional Coordinator for CoCoRaHS. "The more rainfall observers we have, the better we can determine the amount and extent of precipitation in Illinois. CoCoRaHS observers are a valuable supplement to the daily weather observations by NWS observers. For example, CoCoRaHS rain and snow reports from Bureau County are used in forecasting river levels on the Illinois River," adds Morris. During this past summer, daily reports of zero precipitation from CoCoRaHS observers have been used to accurately monitor drought conditions in the area. CoCoRaHS observers can also submit drought impact reports.

An information and training session for anyone interested in participating in this program will be held on Wednesday, October 10, at 7 PM at the Illinois Extension Office in Princeton, IL located at 850 Thompson Street, Becker Professional Suites. There is no charge for the training session but registration is required. To register for this session, contact Bill Morris, IL Regional CoCoRaHS Coordinator at 815-834-0600 x493 or via email at William.morris@noaa.gov. Please be sure and leave your name and phone number. Learn more about the program at the CoCoRaHS Web site http://www.cocorahs.org.

CoCoRaHS, a nonprofit organization, is supported by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other contributors. CoCoRaHS in Illinois is coordinated by the Illinois State Water Survey, the National Weather Service, and the University of Illinois Extension Offices.

Local Contact: Paul Barrett, Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Program Coordinator, plb2@illinois.edu