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SKYWARNTM Across Central California
Amateur radio operators and weather enthusiasts alike are typical and encouraged participants in the SKYWARNTM program,
although anyone with an interest in the weather and public safety can become a volunteer Weather Spotter for the NWS! The NWS Hanford office has official
spotters ranging in age from 12 years to over 80 years.
The training takes
about two hours and will familiarize you with
the identification of hazardous weather for
reporting these observations to forecasters at the NWS office in Hanford.
The contribution of weather spotters cannot be underestimated! Trained weather spotters can make a very significant difference
during severe weather by giving the forecasters on duty eyes and ears in local areas
that have a lack of ground reports. The purpose is the same as the whole purpose of the NWS as an agency: to save lives and property and enhance the national economy.
Spotters that have previously had the training are reminded that NWS
policy is for you to have a refresher training course every three years to be a renewed spotter. If you wish to attend these training sessions, please
RSVP by email or phone. If you have recently moved to Central California and were a SKYWARNTM spotter anywhere else in the country, please let us know
as we can renew your information for your new community.
In the event that you had training within
the last three years it would still be helpful to update on some of
the latest spotter techniques and relay knowledge to some of the less
experienced spotters. This is also an excellent opportunity to meet
some of the personnel at NWS Hanford that many of you have already talked
to on the phone. We would also like to remind our spotters
that the ideal training site is the NWS office, but remote sites are often
selected to minimize travel in other areas. Please contact us if you would like to have a class scheduled in your area for your community group.
It is also helpful if you can arrange a site to conduct the training, if possible.
While telephone reports from trained spotters are common in California and can be received via our “1-800" number, amateur radio is embraced as a reporting means because of its mobility and success during catastrophies or emergency communication situations.
Here are the frequencies that local amateur radio SKYWARNTM volunteers utilize when operating a weather net in Central California:
***Our Call Sign is WX6HNX***
***Voice on 2-Meter Band at 146.880+ MHz PL 103.5***
***Weekly Weather Net Wednesday's at 2000 Hrs.***
See Dan Pruitt's article about participation in SKYWARNTM Recognition Day, 2008!
If you have an interest in weather and think you would like to assist the NWS in helping to serve your community and neighbors, consider becoming a volunteer weather spotter. Please contact the Chairman of the volunteer SKYWARNTM Radio Committee, or the NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist for further information.
Important Links:
See the SKYWARNTM Training page for the latest classes across the central California interior!
Public Training on Spotter Report Quality
Basic Spotters Field Guide (pdf format)
Advanced Spotters Field Guide (pdf format)
National SKYWARNTM Homepage
Contacts for the SKYWARNTM Program:
SKYWARNTM Radio Committee Chairman: Please send an email to skywarnhanford@gmail.com
Or
James Brotherton, Warning Coordination Meteorologist and SKYWARNTM Coordinator:
e-mail: james.brotherton@noaa.gov
Telephone inquiries are also encouraged at the NWS Office at the following number, or our 1-800 toll free spotter number (which is provided during training classes):
(559) 584-3752
Thank you for your continued support and interest in the National Weather Service's SKYWARNTM program!
Lemoore Supercell Thunderstorm, November 22, 1996
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Webmaster
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
San Joaquin Valley Weather Forecast Office
900 Foggy Bottom Road
Hanford, CA 93230-5236
Tel: (559) 584-3752
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