The average user of a home weather station would probably find this rule hard to follow to the letter, so they should just try to keep the rain gauge as far away from any confounding factors as possible and no closer than half the height of the object. A general rule is that a gauge should be placed away from any obstruction, at least twice the height of whatever that object might be.
Ideally, they should be installed in an open area, but this should also be a place that is protected from wind coming from any possible direction. Wind is another factor that can have an impact on the accuracy of a rain gauge’s measurements as it can cause splash out.įinding a proper place for a rain gauge can sometimes prove to be a little difficult. Things like trees and buildings can get in the way and affect the amount of rain reaching the gauge. It is imperative that they be placed in an appropriate place away from any possible obstructions so that they may produce the most accurate data possible. The rain gauge is a tool designed to measure precipitation at a particular location for a given amount of time.