Spotter Training Schedule |
Location |
Course |
Date |
Time |
Contact |
|
New Brockton, AL |
Basic |
May 26, 2009 |
|
Bob Goree |
|
IMPORTANT: Classes may be canceled
with short notice should severe weather pose a threat to the forecast area. All potential class attendees should check the web site on the day of the class or contact the class point of contact to insure that the class has not been canceled. |
|
Welcome to our SKYWARNTM page! The most important goal of the National
Weather Service (NWS) is to protect lives and property through timely watches
and warnings, and the SKYWARNTM program is an essential part of
achieving this goal.
Since SKYWARNTM began in the 1970s, thousands of volunteers have
helped the NWS issue more accurate and timely severe weather warnings by acting
as spotters. The role of the spotter is to serve as the eyes and ears of the
NWS during severe weather situations.
Most SKYWARNTM volunteers are involved with amateur (HAM) radio,
because HAM radio operators are well-equipped to relay their reports of severe
weather. However, the SKYWARNTM program also includes law enforcement
agencies, emergency management personnel, public utilities workers, and even
people who are simply interested in the weather.
Although the NWS office at Tallahassee has obtained modernized equipment such
as the WSR-88D Doppler radar to better detect severe weather, SKYWARNTM
spotters continue to be essential to our warning process. Even with
all the new technology, an accurate report from a SKYWARNTM spotter
often provides critical information required by the forecasters to issue timely
warnings, which can save lives.
Become a Spotter
If you live within our CWFA,
we invite you to become part of the SKYWARNTM program. We offer
seminars that train spotters to identify and report severe weather, and to
also look for indications that severe weather may be imminent.
HAM Radio
A very important part of our
SKYWARNTM network is Amateur (HAM) Radio. HAM radio operators, or HAMs,
are a valuable resource to the NWS because of their ability to communicate during
times of severe weather when other communication media may fail. Many HAMs have
radios in their cars, which allows them to "go mobile" and get to areas
where severe weather is occurring.
At least one HAM is also stationed at the NWS office when severe weather is
occurring. It is the duty of this HAM to act as a network controller by relaying
information between HAMs in the field and NWS personnel. HAMs report their
positions and eyewitness reports, while NWS personnel give information about
storm locations and motions. This allows the net controller to instruct other
HAMs where to go.
Area HAMs recently set up an Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) at
the NWS Tallahassee office. APRS uses packet
radio to relay data that can be displayed on a computer.
If you want to learn more about Amateur Radio, a good place to start is the
Amateur Radio Relay League.
Excellent resources for getting started in HAM radio can also be found at
local HAM Radio clubs.
Any amateur radio or county government organization that would like to receive
SKYWARNTM spotter training should contact Bob
Goree, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Tallahassee.
Please send questions or comments about this page to
Mike Jamski or Kelly Godsey.
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