The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network is holding its March Madness recruiting contest this month nationwide.
CoCoRaHS is a grassroots volunteer network of backyard weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working to measure and map precipitation in their communities.  
Each morning, hundreds of volunteers across the state head out to check their rain gauges and enter their information at www.CoCoRaHS.org.
CoCoRaHS March Madness is a friendly recruiting contest between all 50 states to see who can recruit the most new volunteers during the 31 days of March. The winning state receives the “CoCoRaHS Cup” to keep and exhibit for the year.
The process takes five minutes per day. Observers provide important data to the National Weather Service, climatologists, civil engineers, farmers and other decision makers. Special reports on hail, heavy precipitation and other weather events also are relayed to the National Weather Service and used to monitor flooding potential, severe thunderstorms, winter storms and other significant weather events.  
To join, go to www.CoCoRaHS.org. From this site, new volunteers can obtain an official 4-inch rain gauge for roughly $30. In addition, volunteers may attend a training class or take online training through the website. Once users are registered and begin to report, their rainfall observations will be plotted on national and state maps.
For more information, go to www.CoCoRaHS.org or call 843-744-0303.