The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for varying irrigation schedules for a watering system (e.g., sprinkler system) based on detected precipitation. In one example, a system includes a rain sensor for detecting rain in a location where the rain sensor outputs a continuous rain signal when saturated with a threshold level of rain. The system also includes a sprinkler controller communicatively coupled to the rain sensor. The sprinkler controller opens one or more sprinkler valves based on a watering schedule. When the threshold level of rain is received, the sprinkler controller receives the rain signal during a saturation window of the rain sensor and varies the watering schedule based on rain detected by the rain sensor, where the variation to the watering schedule occurs outside of the saturation window of the rain sensor.
