One of the gaps in weather reporting and preparedness is the essential link to the ground. Ground reporters are able to report on the real-time situation - are clouds coming in, has the rain begun, how strong is the rain, is flooding imminent, how fast is it rising, are roads impassable, are riverbanks breached?
Ground reporting is an essential part of flash flood warnings in the US. It gives the actual situation, not merely what is foreseen by satellite or doppler. It allows verification of forecasts and imagery. The wider the network of ground reporters, even multiple reporters in an area, the better.
Why do we call them "trusted"?
Anyone can post on social media in these days of crowdsourcing. At k's weather, we engage in conversations with the members of the page, and through the years have come to develop "relationships"- knowing the reliability of who posts and the track record of their postings. It helps to ensure that the information we receive is trustworthy.
All we ask is that ground reporters give the objective, actual situation whenever they can, and without any danger to their safety. Even in a non-storm situation ground reporters can report about excessive heat, accidents, fires, earthquakes, volcanic activity - anything that may be of interest to all of us here on k's weather.
It is the contributions of the community that will help widen our reach for warnings and updates on what's going on in all areas.
source: http://www.wxkph.info/#!tgr/c1ew6
Ground reporting is an essential part of flash flood warnings in the US. It gives the actual situation, not merely what is foreseen by satellite or doppler. It allows verification of forecasts and imagery. The wider the network of ground reporters, even multiple reporters in an area, the better.
Why do we call them "trusted"?
Anyone can post on social media in these days of crowdsourcing. At k's weather, we engage in conversations with the members of the page, and through the years have come to develop "relationships"- knowing the reliability of who posts and the track record of their postings. It helps to ensure that the information we receive is trustworthy.
All we ask is that ground reporters give the objective, actual situation whenever they can, and without any danger to their safety. Even in a non-storm situation ground reporters can report about excessive heat, accidents, fires, earthquakes, volcanic activity - anything that may be of interest to all of us here on k's weather.
It is the contributions of the community that will help widen our reach for warnings and updates on what's going on in all areas.
source: http://www.wxkph.info/#!tgr/c1ew6