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