Backyard Sky Journal / Field notebook

Make a rainfall journal

A useful rainfall record comes from consistency. A simple rain gauge and a notebook can help you compare wet and dry periods in your own yard.

Give the gauge a fair location

Follow your gauge manufacturer’s installation instructions. Keep it level and away from roof runoff, sprinklers and nearby obstructions where practical. Record where you put it; moving it can change your results.

Use the same reading time

Read at a consistent time, note the amount and empty the gauge. State the units on every page. If you missed a day, record the longer collection period instead of pretending the total fell on just one day.

Record uncertainty

A spilled gauge, strong wind or frozen precipitation can make a reading unreliable. Mark the entry as uncertain or missing. Do not turn a missing observation into a zero.

Compare gently

Nearby gauges can disagree because showers are uneven and exposure differs. Your yard’s record is local evidence, not a replacement for an official station. Look for patterns over several weeks rather than judging your instrument by one storm.

A starting entry: date, time, amount, units, collection period and a brief note on unusual conditions.