A bizarre “new record”!

[RayProudfoot]

On returning home yesterday I looked at my weather website and saw that the new record light was blinking. I immediately suspected something had gone wrong with the station since it was a calm sunny day.

The new record was a high rain rate value of 64”/hr. But only 0.02” of precipitation was recorded and this was the last of the melting snow in the gauge.

The ISS was replaced in December 2021 and it has the new spoon mechanism. In nearly 14 years I’ve never seen such a bizarre event. Has anyone got any ideas as to how it could have happened?

The erroneous records have since been changed to the valid ones.

[RayProudfoot]

It rained a little this morning and is raining again now. I’m pleased to report the problem hasn’t happened again. ProData support suggested checking the ISS for moisture ingress. When it warms up a bit I will together with a station clean.

[mcrossley]

The console works out the rate from the time between tips. As you had two tips there would have been rate. Do you think a bit of ice was blocking the gauge and it suddenly fell through and you got two tips in very quick succession?

[RayProudfoot]

The console works out the rate from the time between tips. As you had two tips there would have been rate. Do you think a bit of ice was blocking the gauge and it suddenly fell through and you got two tips in very quick succession?

That’s a version plausible possibility Mark. To produce a rate of 64”/hr requires some arithmetical skills to work out the elapsed time between the two tips. Anyone up for the challenge?

[mcrossley]

about 0.6 seconds

1 second = 36 in/hr

It could be it didn't even tip completely, but a flood gave a double partial tip

[RayProudfoot]

about 0.6 seconds

1 second = 36 in/hr

It could be it didn't even tip completely, but a flood gave a double partial tip

Well done! Over five times more intense than my record of 12”/hr when a squall line passed through almost a year ago. It was biblical rain but these two tips beat it convincingly.

[RayProudfoot]

This problem of a bizarrely high rain rate has happened again this morning. It wasn’t even raining at the time. 72” per hour?

I can only think it’s melted dew inside the gauge. This is a 15 month old ISS with the new rain tipping mechanism. I never had this with the previous see-saw one.

Anyone else who has the spoon mechanism experiencing this? I’ll sort out the mess tomorrow.

http://www.cheadlehulmeweather.co.uk/record.htm

[RayProudfoot]

It’s happened again today. The temp rose above 0°C for a couple of hours causing a small melt of snow in the gauge.

Just two tips resulted in an hourly rain rate of 82.29” / hr. So annoying as multiple records need amending.

This never happened with the old rain tipping mechanism. Just this new spoon one.

[mcrossley]

I had the same yesterday when lots of tips of melt water ran through very quickly - at least my copy of MX filtered them out as "spikes" ...

Code: Select all

2025-01-09 13:22:57 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:57 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:54 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:54 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:52 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:52 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:49 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:49 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:47 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:47 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:44 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:44 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:42 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:42 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:39 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:39 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:37 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:37 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:34 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:34 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:32 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:32 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored
2025-01-09 13:22:29 - Spike removal: Rate value = 1280.0 SpikeMaxRainRate = 999.0
2025-01-09 13:22:29 - Spike removal: Rain rate greater than specified; reading ignored

[Mapantz]

Perhaps this is a downside to the spoon tipper?

Snow isn't that common here, but 2018, 2022 and last year saw enough snowfall to fill up in the funnel, but when it melted, the see-saw tipper was working like a normal rain event, and only recording small rain rates.

[RayProudfoot]

Mark, I’m glad I’m not alone with this problem. One advantage of C2 I suppose. Mine have been corrected but This Year should hopefully correct at midnight.

@Mapantz, my old gauge worked just like yours. I’m not convinced it’s a better design. I wonder if John from ProData might pop in.

[mcrossley]

I think the seesaw tipper may have got overwhelmed with a "gush" and stuck on one side overflowing.

[De Hout]

I experienced the same thing earlier this morning, after temperatures rose above freezing.
Obviously, the spoon tipper was frozen in place.
The VP2 measured 2 tips with a rate of 1182 mm/h in the records, but 12.5 mm/h in the January log file.
I had to edit all the record files, although spike removal is set to 999 mm/h.
Debug logging is off, so I can't see how C1 managed this.

There's nothing to be done in my case, as the legacy C1 is abandoned.

[RayProudfoot]

John Dann at ProData has responded here.
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=46378.new#new

Temp here is now 0.8°C so I’m expecting the same to happen. More editing later no doubt.

[grwkak]

Interesting. I too have tipping gauges - Vantage Vue and Ecowitt. Being in a snowy area with lake-effect its not unusual to see rain events when we thaw. Don't recall seeing such high rates. May be the amount of water in the snow - lake-effect is very light and "fluffy" vs. other types.

Guy