Remove the funnel and insert the measuring stick into the bottom of the measuring tube, leaving it there for two or three seconds. The water will darken the stick. Remove the stick and read the rainfall amount from the top of the darkened part of the stick. Example: if the stick is darkened to three marks above the 0.80 inch mark (the longer horizontal white line beneath the 0.80), the rainfall is .83 inch. Mark sure that the side labeled inches in read and not the side labeled mm.

If the measuring tube is full (indicating at least two inches of rain), empty the tube carefully to avoid spilling any water back into the overflow can. Allow a few seconds for all the water to drain from the tube. Then pour the water from the overflow can into the measuring tube. Measure this amount and add it to the two inches already emptied from the tube. If more than four inches of rain has fallen, the measuring tube will be filled at least twice.

When finished, put the emptied measuring tube back inside the empty outer can and replace the funnel on top.

Remove the funnel and measuring tube from the outer can during winter or whenever snow is likely to fall. The water equivalent of frozen precipitation that has fallen into the gage can be determined by following these steps.

a) Bring the overflow container that contains the snow into a warm building.

b) Wait for the snow to melt.

c) Pour the melted snow into the measuring tube.

d) Measure this as you would measure rain

Take care not to leave water standing in the gage if the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, as this can bend and crack it, causing leaks.