New feature #1

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Lower Big Blue NRD (LBBNRD) have both requested to be able to download rainfall data from the NeRAIN website. NOAA requested it to be able to incorporate our data into theirs since we have more stations in our NeRAIN program than they do. This will provide them with a better distribution for rainfall data than would be available without all you volunteers. LBBNRD wants to use it to help evaluate the benefits of current and potential flood control structures. With the NeRAIN data, they will be able compare the streamflows with and without flood control structures for various rainfall events. This will help them estimate flood damages that might be avoided with structures in place.

If you need to download data for use it in a Geographic Information System or some other purpose, you can go to “reports” and click on “Select data to download” link. If you do use NeRAIN data, drop me a note so we know how our data is being used.

New feature #2

On most of the map pages, you will see a new link just above and to the right of the map. Clicking on the “Show Streamflow Stations” link will show the US Geological Survey stations on the map. You can also click on the “Turn Off Streamflow Stations” to turn them back off or just go to another page and they will automatically disappear. If you turn them on when you are viewing at the county level, you will also see an additional instruction that says “Click Streamflow Station to show graph”. If you do that, you will be able to view a graph from USGS’s website for that period to see how rainfall events have affected the flows. If you turn the streamflow stations back off, and then click on the map again, you will zoom in to the area you are clicking as was normal before this new feature was added.

Edit feature

Many of you are aware of it but some may not know that you can edit your recent data if you accidentally make an entry error. To use that feature, log on as usual and then click the “data entry” button. Just above the “Select Data Entry Option”, you will notice a “Edit” button. If you click that and then click “Select Data Entry Option”, you will be presented with your recent entries. Just click the one you need to edit and you will go to your normal entry screen except it will have your previous information already entered. Edit it as necessary and your record will be corrected.

Let’s hear your comments

At the bottom of each data entry screen is a text box for comments. Don’t be afraid to use that to enter significant weather related events. The Weather Service likes to read comments about wind shifts, storm patterns, rain intensity, etc. Also be sure to include information such as when the rain started, ended, when it was highest intensity, and other items that are available on the data entry screens.

Thanks again for volunteering for NeRAIN.

Rich Kern
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94676
Lincoln, NE 68509-4676
(402) 471-3948
rkern@dnr.ne.gov