The National Weather Service is enlisting Volunteer Precipitation Observers, especially in Knox and several other counties, to help collect more accurate rainfall, snow, and hail data.

The program is part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Volunteers use a standard four-inch rain gauge, take daily measurements, and submit reports online.

The data is used by meteorologists, emergency managers, and researchers to improve local forecasts, flood predictions, and drought monitoring.

Some Indiana counties, including Knox, currently have two or fewer active observers, leaving big gaps in coverage.

Anyone interested can sign up online at weather.gov/ind/incocorahs, purchase the required gauge, and complete a short online training before beginning reports.

Again observers are especially needed from Knox County, as well as Spencer, Switzerland, Jackson, and Scott counties.