[wxqc] Registered or Certificed Weather Observer for Insurance Coverage

[webmaster]

I was contacted by some people who will be hosting a local event and 
want weather insurance.  The underwriter said validation for a claim 
could be handled one of three ways.

1.  using NWS data if the NWS station is within 10 miles, however it 
is over 17 miles away (by crow)
2.  Using a retired meterologist they hire that from his home 
(wherever) analyzes available data to make a determination
3.  Or hire a weather observer to be onsite to record weather information

The qualifications for the weather observer are rather bizarre...

According to the underwriters these are the qualifications they require;

1.     A member of the AMS, IWW, or NWA

2.     An active or retired member of the National Weather Service

3.     An active or retired member of the Canadian Weather Service

4.     An active or retired member of the Military

5.     A cooperative weather service observer in some way affiliated with
the National Weather Service or Canadian Weather Service

The first option makes some sense, the second and third option 
doesn't distinguish between a person with weather training vs. the janitor.
The 4th option makes no sense.  What would make a "military" person 
qualified to make weather observations compared to anyone else?

The last option makes it sound that someone with a CWOP station would 
be qualified, do you agree?

Has anyone on this list been involved as a "weather observer" for 
weather insurance coverage purposes?

I should also mention that if you are unable to provide a qualified 
weather observer you can hire one from a service that has about the 
same list but also seeks out "amateur observers" as people to use for 
this purpose.  Presumably the company providing observers could seek 
out someone like me as I qualify as amateur, very amateur :)

In none of the information or web sites do they make any mention of 
what equipment was being used by the observers.  Obviously if a hired 
person brings some weather station equipment with them it is probably 
not calibrated and I doubt they are bringing calibration equipment 
with them, but I could be wrong about that.

Any comments or feedback on this?

This has been cross-posted on the Weather Display site so I apologize 
to those who have seen this twice.

Thanks,

Lew




******************************************
Lew - Amateur Weatherman
lew at farmingtonweather.com
Farmington Weather
www.farmingtonweather.com
Farmington, Minnesota, USA