Where does the rain data come from?
The data comes from Oregon State University’s Spatial Climate Analysis Service (SCAS), the nation’s premiere climate mapping center. The data is generated using a model called PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) which uses precipitation point data, elevation, temperature, dew points, rain shadows, temperature inversions, coastal regions, and other complex climatic regimes to estimate the most accurate precipitation data in the world. Give me some more detail about the rain data! The rainfall displayed on the maps is a combination of “actual” and “extrapolated” (estimated) rainfall. In Arizona, for instance, there are 219 rain stations in Arizona which report the “official” rainfall (the same that is reported on the local news) – a few of the 219 only have historic data, so the actual number of “reporting” rain stations is about 150. Wherever rain data is measured, i.e. at the rain stations, the map shows this exact number. In areas in between rain statio
