The following is some information about the National Weather Service Flagstaff Spotter
Program. Our mission statement is “To promote reporting and verification of dangerous weather
conditions occurring across northern Arizona in real time.” This is done primarily using the
telephone. A valuable subset of the spotter group uses ham radio equipment to relay information
to the National Weather Service office in Flagstaff. This group is known as the SKYWARNTM
observers.
The Flagstaff spotter network is voluntary. It consists of nearly 400 private individuals
and various private and governmental organizations in Apache, Coconino, northern Gila, Navajo,
and Yavapai counties. These people describe dangerous and damaging weather conditions that
meet or exceed the criteria listed in the two links below.
There is a two way communication between the spotters and the Flagstaff office. The first
method is when these spotters call the Flagstaff office and report weather conditions that meet or
exceed the criteria listed on the links below. We have a toll free number, that spotters use to
report dangerous weather conditions. The second way is when the Flagstaff office initiates the
call, suspecting that the weather criteria on the attachments is being or has been observed.
If you would like more information about the Weather Spotter or SKYWARNTM programs
here in northern Arizona, please send an e-mail to either of the links below.
Spotter Reporting Criteria Links:
Summer Criteria
Winter Criteria
Contact us:
Spotter Program Leader
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
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