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SKYWARN
Program |
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SKYWARN
is a unique program developed by
the National Weather Service (NWS) to recruit and train storm
spotters. SKYWARN is a partnership between the NWS and
local emergency managers (EMs) with NWS providing the training and
the EMs more involved with the organization and logistical end of
scheduling training and organizing the groups.
Typically, the NWS calls the local EM to activate
area spotters when significant or widespread severe weather is
expected. Once activated, spotter groups relay their reports
through the EM or his designee to the NWS. This implies that
spotters will have rapid two-way field communications (e.g. law
enforcement, highway department workers, volunteer or professional
fire fighters and local amateur radio operators working with amateur
radio emergency services (ARES) groups). We also welcome
individuals that wish to operate as independent SKYWARN participants
and who can report from their home and/or while in the field.
Each year, the NWS and American
Radio Relay League (ARRL) organize a special SKYWARN Recognition
Day. It celebrates the contributions that
volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the NWS. During the full
day event, SKYWARN operators visit NWS offices and contact
other radio operators across the world.
For more information, check out SKYWARN
Recognition Day 2006
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Becoming
a SKYWARN Spotter |
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NWS Albuquerque works closely with county emergency
managers and officials across the northern two-thirds of New Mexico
to organize and schedule spotter training classes each year.
The critical common element will be a capability to
maintain communications with our office. To that end, spotters
are encouraged to obtain an amateur radio license in order to
participate in ARES SKYWARN groups to ensure rapid and direct
communication with our office using a well organized amateur radio
repeater system. SKYWARN participants independent of more formal
groups would call NWS Albuquerque with field reports whenever
hazardous weather is observed. If you agree to be added to our
spotter list, then at times the forecaster might initiate a first
call to you or else would be calling you back once they are aware
that you are available and reporting from a field location.
For additional information on training or local ARES
coordinators that could assist you, please contact Keith
Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Keith.Hayes@noaa.gov
or call our office at (505) 243-0702. |
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Albuquerque
Storm Spotter Enhancement Team (ASSET) |
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The National Weather Service
in Albuquerque developed the Albuquerque
Storm Spotter Enhancement Team (ASSET). The primary
objective of the ASSET program is to obtain timely and accurate
reports of all types of significant weather. National Weather
Service Albuquerque is responsible for the northern two-thirds of
New Mexico. A wide variety of extreme weather occurs throughout the
year. Reports from volunteer spotters improve our products and
services in a number of ways. A
low color brochure is also available.
Due to the rural nature of New Mexico, our current network (click
on image to left) lacks the spatial resolution necessary to cover
the state. Observers are clustered around cities and major highways,
with many areas void of observers. This network of storm
spotters is independent of the Cooperative Observer Program.
Storm spotters report tornadoes, funnel clouds, hail, winds 50 mph
or greater, flooding, snowfall, ice accumulation, and any hazardous
weather causing injury, death or damage. Spotter can call
a toll free number 1-888-386-7637 or use a storm
report form on our webpage.
If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering to be a
storm spotter please contact our office at 505-243-0702 or send us
an email sr-abq.webmaster@noaa.gov
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NWS
Albuquerque Amateur Radio Program - WX5ABQ |
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The NWS Albuquerque office, located on the west side of the
Albuquerque Sunport airport, has both 2M and 70CM amateur radio.
Vanity call WX5ABQ (WX weather, region
5, and ABQ international identifier for Albuquerque airport and NWS
office) is normally used whenever the station is on the air.
For SKYWARN, we primarily use the MegaLink
repeater system which provides coverage into most of the NWS ABQ
office county warning area or the northern two-thirds of New Mexico.
We may also use several of the Upper
Rio FM Society repeaters (146.940 or 146.900) as well as other
local repeaters from near Santa Fe (147.200 or 147.300), Los Alamos
(145.190), Bernalillo-Rio Rancho (147.100), Belen (146.700) and
Socorro (146.680) whenever severe weather threatens along the Rio
Grande Valley and over west central New Mexico.
Although we do have a number of staff licensed to operate the WX5ABQ
amateur station, there are times when these licensed forecasters are
not on duty or else other duties prevent us from monitoring the
amateur radio. A guest operator may then be called out to assist. If
you can't raise us direct on the radio, you may check station status
or request station activation with a phone call to the toll-free
SKYWARN number 1 888 386 7637 or via the Upper Rio FM auto-patch
using codes 365 or 9365 (after hours emergency phone patch).
Spotters can contribute snow and road condition reports as well as
heavy rain and severe thunderstorm reports. We encourage both home
location reporting and reports from spotters that may be traveling
across the state.
Have you designated a central contract point within a amateur
spotter group? It's usually best to have one to two folks designated
as primary group contact points. This helps us request spotter
activation and then manage reports during an event. It's left up to
the group to decide whether to communicate as a group on a local
repeater or simplex and then have someone relay reports to us via
MegaLINK, other repeater or by phone. However, please let us know
which frequency the group uses so we can monitor if possible.
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