(St. Paul, MN)--Area residents are encouraged to become rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.

The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch diameter rain gauge. Participants submit their precipitation reports online.

Minnesota State Climatologist Luigi Romolo said the data from backyard rain gauges are a critical source of information and added it’s beneficial to add more volunteer weather observers each year, even in areas where there are already volunteers.

In Minnesota, volunteers are particularly needed outside the Twin Cities metro area.

For the past six years, Minnesota has won the award for recruiting the most new volunteers of any state during the annual recruiting drive.

Those interested in signing up may visit CoCoRaHS.org or contact Romolo at luigi.romolo@state.mn.us.