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| Skywarn™ Training |
SKYWARN™ trainings for Southwest and West Central Florida can be taken online (using the tabs above) or in a classroom setting.
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| What is Skywarn™ |
A program consisting of trained weather spotters who provide reports of severe and hazardous weather to local National Weather Service Offices.
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| Why do we need Skywarn™ |
Skywarn™ spotter reports provide vital "ground truth" to the NWS. The reports serve the NWS mission of protecting life and property in 3 ways:
- Assist in present and future warning decisions.
- Confirm hazardous weather detected by National Weather Service Radars.
- Provide verification information which can be used for future research efforts.
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| Who is Skywarn™ |
Any adult (18 years or older) may become a spotter. Spotters generally have the following in common:
- An interest in weather.
- An interest in serving the community.
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| How does one become a Skywarn™ Spotter |
Training is offered at least once a year in every county we serve. Local government organizations, such as law enforcement and fire/rescue, provide the backbone.
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| Training Descriptions |
- The Basic training will focus on weather safety, thunderstorm formation, severe weather cloud identification, and reporting.
- The Advanced training will feature a discussion on sea breeze fronts, lightning patterns, visualizing instability, and hurricanes.
- The Marine Weather Spotter Training will feature a discussion of sea breeze fronts, lightning patterns, thunderstorm formation, cloud identification, and how to get your reports back to the NWS. The training is about developing a relationship between the NWS and mariners to provide the best possible forecasts and warnings so our marine community can make informed decisions regarding their safety and the safety of their families or guests.
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| NWS Ruskin Spotter Statistics |
- As of June 23, 2008
- Number of SkywarnTM Spotters = 3,243
- Number who are Amateur Radio Operators = 748
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| Skywarn™ History |
Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, as well as an average of 6 deadly hurricanes. Some 90% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $14 billion in damage.
What can you do to help protect yourself, your family, and neighbors? Consider becoming a trained Skywarn™ Spotter. A trained spotter knows the weather threats in Florida, safety rules, and visual clues regarding thunderstorm strength. You can attend the training even if you do not want to be an official spotter.
Skywarn™ is a program sponsored by your National Weather Service (NWS) consisting of trained weather spotters who provide reports of severe and hazardous weather to help in the warning process. Skywarn™ spotter reports provide vital "ground truth" to the NWS. The reports serve the NWS mission of protecting life and property in 3 ways: assist in present and future warning decisions, confirm hazardous weather detected by NWS radar, and provide verification information which can be used for future research efforts. Skywarn™ is a volunteer public service for those 18 years or older. Each year our Spotters donate their time and/or equipment to help the NWS issue severe weather warnings.
Did You Know...
- that storm spotters were first used during WWII to alert the military artillery plants of approaching lightning?
- that after WWII spotter networks were maintained for military installations?
- that after the May 25, 1955 tornado in Udall, KS killed 80 people, the NWS decided to train their own severe weather spotters?
- that the first spotter training course was held March 8, 1959 in Wellington, KS for 225 weather spotters?
- that the Skywarn™ program was officially created in 1965?
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