(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina branch of the National Weather Service is looking for volunteer weather observers for the spring. Meteorologist Tom Lonka said one of the duties for an observer is to set up a rain gauge to issue a daily rainfall report.

"That report is sent to various forecast services like the River Forecaster Center uses those rainfall reports to compare river forecasts for the day.  It's especially helpful in flood situations, tropical events when rivers come up in Eastern North Carolina," said Lonka.

The grassroots effort is part of a growing national network of home-based and amateur rain spotters with a goal of providing a high density precipitation network that will supplement existing observations. North Carolina became the 21st state to establish a weather observer program back in 2007.

To learn how you can become an observer, go to the National Weather Service website.