“We didn’t plan to break any records!” proclaimed Matt Carnicle, a dedicated volunteer with the NASA-backed Cooperative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). On June 18, 2026, Carnicle recorded a staggering 29.06 inches of rainfall, surpassing Louisiana’s previous all-time 24-hour precipitation record of 22.00 inches. “I’m just an ordinary weather enthusiast. I report what the gauge indicates, whether it’s 0, 2/200, or another value,” he added.
CoCoRaHS (pronounced KO-ko-rozz) is an extensive network of volunteer weather observers, comprising individuals of all ages who help measure and map rainfall, hail, and snow from their backyards. The thousands of daily precipitation reports gathered are published on the CoCoRaHS website, serving scientists and citizens alike. This data contributes to enhancing weather forecasts, informing water and land management strategies, driving atmospheric models, and issuing vital flash flood and severe weather alerts.
Matt got involved after attending a StormSpotter class, learning that CoCoRaHS plays a crucial role in a NASA hail research initiative focusing on the Gulf States in southeastern United States. CoCoRaHS’s hail reports, along with accompanying photographs, aid in studying the “melt rate”—the differentiation between satellite estimates of hailstone sizes in clouds and ground measurements by volunteers. Eager to contribute further, Matt invested in a standardized rain gauge to accurately measure rainfall and actively participate in CoCoRaHS.
On June 18, 2026, Matt’s record-breaking rainfall measurement eclipsed the previous Louisiana state record of 22.00 inches set in 1962 (Hawaii holds the national record at an astonishing 49.69 inches of 24-hour precipitation). Remarkably, the 29.06 inches recorded exhibited a decline within just 12 hours. Climatologist Jay Grimes from Louisiana reviewed Matt’s data alongside National Weather Service representatives, stating that such an extraordinary meteorological event is predicted to occur in the region less than once every 1,000 years. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) committee is anticipated to meet in the coming months to confirm and validate this new record.
Join Matt and fellow CoCoRaHS volunteers in submitting official rainfall reports to the National Weather Service. They are also monitoring hail activity in the Southeast, as CoCoRaHS and NASA collaborate on research regarding hail’s melt dynamics from clouds to the ground. To participate, all you need is a manual rain gauge that meets the accuracy requirement of 1/100th of an inch and is approved by the National Weather Service (measurements from automatic rain gauges are not accepted). Sign up today, and you might be the next to record a groundbreaking precipitation event!
Source: science.nasa.gov