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SKYWARN by K1SJW |
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What is SKYWARN? Skywarn is a nationwide network of volunteer weather spotters who report to and are trained by the National Weather Service (NWS). These spotters report many forms of significant or severe weather such as Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hail, Heavy Snow, and Flooding How Does SKYWARN Operate? The staff at the NWS Field Office is responsible for issuing local forecasts and Severe Weather Warnings. Skywarn Spotters provide an invaluable service by providing ground truth on the atmosphere that forecasters observe from radars, satellites and reporting stations. The spotters act as the eyes and ears of the forecaster's helping to provide better forecasts and severe weather warnings. How Will I Know When SKYWARN Has Been Activated? The spotter network is usually activated whenever there is a threat of severe weather, this is usually preceded by the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Tornado Watch, Flood Watch or some other type of watch. Under the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Emergency Communications Plan, activation of the Emergency Alert System or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio is automatic notice to Amateurs to check in to their normal Net frequencies What Should I Report ? 1 Tornadoes, Water Spouts, Funnel Clouds and Wall Clouds (either rotating or not). 2 Damaging Winds that down trees, large limbs and power lines or any wind producing property damage. 3 Hail of any size 4 Lightning that produces damage, injury or death. 5 Flooding, Ice Jams, Bankfull Rivers or Streams. 6 Measured Rainfall that exceeds 1.0 to 1.5 inches in a 4 hour period. 7 Freezing Rain (all occurrences). 8 Measured Snowfall the 1st two inches and then every two inches there after. Don't forget to also include your final storm total. 9 Any other event that you feel may help us determine the severity of storms How Can I Join SKYWARN? Joining is easy. All that it is required is an interesting 3 hour training session. The training courses are offered during the year and are held throughout the local forecast office's county warning area. Sessions are announced over NOAA Weather Radio Stations and are posted on the NWSFO web sites. Steve Williams K1SJW A basic spotter training class has been scheduled for the Red Cross in Waterford on July 12th at 6:30 PM. Please contact Scott Moore W1SSN at vsmoore2@comcast.net by the end of June if you plan to attend. |