Rainfall Tracking
Logging, syncing, charting, and exporting rainfall data for your course
The Rainfall Tracker records and charts how much rain has fallen on your course. It combines data from your weather API with manual gauge readings, so you have a complete picture for irrigation planning, spray timing, disease management, and committee reporting.
Rainfall tracking dashboard
This article refers to a live TurfWise screen. Media is omitted here so the written steps stay current across releases.
When would you use this?
- Checking how much rain has fallen in the last 7, 30, 90, or 180 days
- Adding a manual gauge reading after your morning round
- Comparing your on-course readings against weather API data
- Exporting rainfall data as CSV for an agronomist or committee report
- Importing historical rainfall data when first setting up your course in TurfWise
What happens when you use it
The page shows rainfall statistics (total, daily average, days with rain, maximum daily) and two charts: a daily rainfall bar chart and a cumulative rainfall line chart. Data comes from two sources: your configured weather API and any manual or gauge readings you add.
All records appear in a table below the charts, where you can edit, delete, or filter by source. When you export, TurfWise produces a CSV file of the filtered data.
How to use this page
Sync weather API data
Click Sync to pull the latest rainfall data from your weather API. This fills in the baseline automatically. You'll see a success or error message when the sync completes.
If you haven't configured a weather provider yet, do that first in Settings > Weather.
Choose your time period
Select a period using the buttons at the top: 7d, 30d, 90d, or 180d. The stat cards, charts, and record table all update to show data from that window.
Your selected period is remembered between visits.
Add a manual record
Click Add Record to log a manual or gauge reading. Fill in:
- Date -- when the reading was taken
- Amount (mm) -- the measurement
- Source -- select Manual or Gauge
- Gauge ID -- optional, useful if you have multiple gauges
- Notes -- optional, for context
Click Save to add the record.
Filter by source
Use the source filter (All, Manual, Gauge, Weather API) to see only the records you need. This is particularly useful when you want to compare manual readings against API data.
Export your data
Click Export CSV to download the current filtered data as a spreadsheet-ready file. This is what you'd send to your agronomist or attach to a committee report.
What do the stat cards show?
- Avg Daily -- average daily rainfall in millimetres
- Days with Rain -- how many days recorded any rainfall (shown as a fraction of total days with a percentage)
- Days No Rain -- how many dry days in the period
- Dry Spell -- the longest consecutive run of days without rain
- 3-Mo Avg -- the three-month rolling average in millimetres
- YoY -- year-over-year comparison showing this year's total against last year's, with a percentage change
Below the charts, you'll also find a Monthly Totals table and Baseline Comparison showing how the current year compares to historical averages.
Importing historical data
Click Import Historical Data to backfill rainfall records from previous years. This is useful when you're first setting up TurfWise and want to bring in past data for comparison.
You'll be asked for a location, start year/month, and end year/month. The import runs in the background and shows progress as it works.
Historical imports don't overwrite existing records
The import process preserves any records you've already entered. It only adds new data for dates where no record exists.
Manual vs API readings -- when to use each
- Weather API is good for continuous baseline coverage. It runs automatically and fills gaps when nobody checks the gauge.
- Manual gauge readings are more accurate for your specific location. Weather API data covers a broader area and may not match your microclimate exactly.
- Best practice: keep API data as your baseline, then add manual corrections where local readings differ noticeably. Use the notes field to explain large discrepancies.
Note the difference when it matters
If you routinely see large differences between gauge and API data (for example, 8mm API vs 12mm gauge), add a note explaining why. This is especially useful for committee reports where someone might question the numbers.
Common problems and fixes
- "Sync isn't pulling any data" -- Check that you've configured a weather provider and API key in Settings > Weather. Without this, there's nothing to sync.
- "My manual reading isn't showing" -- Check the source filter. If it's set to "Weather API" only, your manual records won't be visible.
- "The charts look wrong after adding a record" -- Make sure the date on your manual record is within the selected period. Records outside the current window won't appear on the charts.
- "I entered the wrong amount" -- Click the edit icon on the record row in the table, correct the value, and save.
Good habits that prevent issues later
- Add manual gauge readings as soon as you take them. Waiting until the end of the week almost always leads to mismatched dates or forgotten readings.
- Always set the correct source label (Manual or Gauge) when adding a record. If everything is labelled "Manual," you lose the ability to distinguish between gauge data and estimates.
- Export before committee meetings. Having the CSV ready saves a scramble on the day.
- Don't delete suspect records without leaving a note. Edit them, correct the value, and explain why in the notes field. This preserves your audit trail.
Where this fits in TurfWise
Rainfall data is used across several parts of the system:
- Spray Decision Calculator -- recent rainfall affects spray timing recommendations
- Disease Prediction -- precipitation levels influence disease risk models
- Weather Intelligence -- rainfall is part of the broader conditions picture
- Committee Reports -- rainfall summaries are commonly requested in committee packs
If your rainfall data is inaccurate, the knock-on effects show up in spray decisions and disease forecasts.
Where to find it
Open Weather + Spraying > Rainfall & Wetness from the main navigation, or go directly to /rainfall.