MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Holiday weather gift ideas

Dec 3, 2013, 11:41 AM | Updated: 12:01 pm

A rain gauge is a great gift idea this holiday season and is sure to get plenty of use in the North...

A rain gauge is a great gift idea this holiday season and is sure to get plenty of use in the Northwest. (NOAA - Photo courtesy of Janet Spurgeon)

(NOAA - Photo courtesy of Janet Spurgeon)

Do you have someone special who has an interest in weather? Here are some weather gift ideas.

Rain Gauge – The Community Collaborative Rain Snow and Hail program, nicknamed CoCoRaHS, offers four-inch thick plastic rain gauges for less than $30, including shipping.

Visit www.cocorahs.org to learn more about this precipitation reporting network and the links to several rain gauge vendors. Perhaps that someone special would like to join CoCoRaHS and report their precipitation, including snow from their backyard.

Weather Station – There are a variety of weather stations available for your special someone. If they get such a station, they can use the software to report their data online by becoming a member of the Citizen Weather Observation Program or CWOP, and have their data posted online. Get more information about CWOP

Many in the weather community monitor reports daily from both the CWOP and CoCoRaHS programs. These groups include TV weather anchors, National Weather Service forecasters, researchers, emergency managers, transportation authorities, power utilities, and others.

All-Hazards Weather Radio – Your special someone can monitor their local NOAA Weather Radio station for the latest forecasts and current conditions. And when a local Emergency Alert System or EAS warning message is sent, the receiver acts like a smoke detector, alerting you to a potential life threatening message.

These EAS messages include flood and weather warnings, and also other non-weather warnings such as tsunami, volcanic eruption, hazardous release, and Amber Alerts. Many receivers offer site specific and event specific programming capabilities allowing you to tailor the receiver to your local needs. NOAA Weather Radio is a life saver for the cost of a pair of shoes. Visit www.wrh.noaa.gov for more information about NOAA Weather Radio and where to obtain weather radio receivers.

All of these gift ideas should bring joy to weather enthusiast this holiday season.

MyNorthwest News

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

12 minutes ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

54 minutes ago

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

2 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

12 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

13 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

15 hours ago

Holiday weather gift ideas