A little rain must fall

For the past 25 years, Minneota has collected and provided data to the National Weather Service. For that, city workers have been recognized for their service. On behalf of the city, Water/Wastewater Operator Tim DeVlaemick was presented with a certificate on Friday from Observing Program Leader Brad Adams of the National Weather Service Office in Sioux Falls. DeVlaeminck, along with his crew, has taken precipitation measurements for the NWS for the past 22 years, since taking over for Dennis Wambeke. The daily precipitation data collected by the City of Minneota personnel becomes a permanent part of the climatic record for the local area and nation.

 The data is used extensively by many other sectors, including the National Weather Service and state climatologists. This data is also used by numerous others in the public and private sectors for agricultural planning and assessment, engineering, environmental-impact assessment, utilities planning, and litigation.

These records continue to acquire greater value with the passage of time. DeVlaemnick and his crew collect rain and snow, measuring the precipitation at the City Maintenance Shop on the east side of town.

“We have an eight-inch tube that the snow is collected in,” DeVlaeminck explained. “We take that snow and let it melt so we can measure the precipitation amount.“We don’t measure the amount of snow; we measure the precipitation amount.

Ten inches of snow might equal one inch of precipitation. But sometimes the snow is wet and heavy, so it’s different every time.” The precipitation data collected by city workers is then sent to the National Weather Service. “We used to do everything long-hand,” said DeVlaeminck. “But for the last eight or ten years, everything is recorded on the computer.” For measuring rain, a two-inch tube is inserted inside the eight-inch tube in case of overflow. “There is a funnel on top (of the smaller tube), but the tube itself only holds two inches of rain,” said DeVlaeminck.

“So if it does rain more than two inches, it goes over the top and into the larger tube. But we try to watch it and empty it before that happens.” The workers record precipitation amounts every day that there is rain or snow. “We record every morning at 8 a.m.,” DeVlaeminck said. “It’s not a big deal. It only takes a few minutes each day.”

DeVlaeminck doesn’t feel like he is going above and beyond the call of duty, but realizes the importance of collecting data for the National Weather Service. “Obviously, it’s very important,” he said.

“They drove all the way from Sioux Falls to thank us for doing this. (Brad Adams) has 80 stations that he is in charge of. It’s much bigger than I realized.” In a statement, the National Weather Service said: “We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the cooperative weather observers and organizations who have quietly and steadily built up what amounts to a priceless national treasure in the finest tradition of volunteer service to their country. The United States Government, the National Weather Service, State Climatologist, community and others greatly appreciate this service, and thank those such as Tim DeVlaeminck and other city personnel who have worked tirelessly to take accurate weather observations over the past 25 years”.

DeVlaeminck also “baby sits” the rain gauge during Boxelder Bug Days if rain is in the forecast. Bug Days committee members take out an insurance policy in case inclement weather forces the postponement of various events.

“If it’s raining, I park next to the tube at the shop so no one pours anything in it,” DeVlaeminck said.

“You’d be surprised what people will do.” The insurance policy is in place for a predetermined amount of precipitation during the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

“We’ve been lucky most years lately and there hasn’t been much rain,” DeVlaeminck said. “ But two years ago, we had enough rain where they had to cancel some things and they were able to collect the insurance.”