While it might sound stupid to need a rain gauge in winter, I really
need one. We have had a very weird winter so far. Just yesterday we
had a heavy rain storm with lightning and thunder. Today we have gotten
8 inches of snow and tomorrow it's supposed to be as cold as 30 below
windchill.

Being a spotter, I try to report as much as I can. But I have not found
a way to measure rain in the winter. In summer I have a commercial rain
gauge. A few years ago I left it out in late fall, it had water in it,
which froze and broke the plastic gauge. Now I put them away as soon as
they start talking frost in fall.

What can I use in winter that is accurate but wont break if it freezes.
Dont tell me to empty it after it rains. I'm not always around to do
it, and the temperature can change from 40 deg to 10 deg in a few hours.