 |
Skywarn™ Program
San Juan, Puerto Rico
|
SKYWARN™ is a voluntary program developed by the National Weather
Service where volunteers serve as storm spotters for the National
Weather Service and local emergency management programs. Keeping
their eyes on the sky, volunteers serve as the eyes and ears for
the whole community. Storm spotters come from all walks of life
but they all have generally two things in common - an interest in
the weather and an interest in serving their community. The goal
of SKYWARN™ is to improve the warning program by delivering timely
severe weather warnings.
SKYWARN™ is a loosely knit organization. Training in severe storm
identification comes from the National Weather Service. Often, another
organization, such as emergency management, law enforcement, fire
departments or rescue squads, or amateur radio groups, is the backbone
of the SKYWARN™ effort in a particular community.
The National Weather Service needs real time reports of hail size,
wind damage, flash flooding, heavy rain, and tornado development,
in order to effectively warn the public. Even as new technology
allows the National Weather Service to issue warnings with more
lead time, spotters will always be needed as links between radar
indications of severe weather and ground truth information.
If you are interested in becoming a Severe Storm Spotter and want
to receive SkyWarn training, contact your local parish/county emergency
management office or contact our Warning Coordination Meteorologist,
at the National Weather Service Office in San Juan at 787-253-4586.
Additional Links
|
weather.gov 
National Weather Service Forecast Office
