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| Severe Weather Awareness Weeks in 2009 |
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| MINNESOTA: April 20-24. Done! | NORTH DAKOTA: April 20-24. Done! |
| Download Basic Spotter's Guide | National | Local |
| Download Advanced Spotter's Guide | National | Local |
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2009 Spotter Training Sessions Updated as of: June 9, 2009. |
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For further information concerning our warning program at The National Weather Grand Forks, please contact: Greg Gust, Warning Coordination Meteorologist. |
Frequently Asked Questions About SkyWarnWhat is SKYWARN? Since the mid 1990s, the WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) has provided valuable information to area forecasters...with better detection of severe storm phenomena and more accurate and timely warnings. However, even with the advance in technology... "ground truth" is still a very important part of the warning process. "Ground truth" is what is actually occurring. Is the storm tornadic? Is it producing large hail? How about damaging winds? Most of the "ground truth" is provided by trained storm spotters (through Skywarn)...or the "eyes of the NWS." Who Are SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotters? How can I get involved? Each class, Basic and Advanced, is a multi-media presentation which includes detailed video. Classes are typically scheduled back-to-back on the same evening. Each class typically takes around 75 minutes, with about a 15 minute break for questions and refreshments. New Spotters are encouraged to attend the Basic Class while veteran Spotters may chose to attend the Advanced Class. To find out when a class will be given near you, Click Here. |
| Area Contacts for SkyWarn or Amateur Radio Information |
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Contact your local County Emergency Manager in North Dakota or in Minnesota for location and time of the SKYWARN training in your county this spring. For additional information on the SKYWARN program, contact Gregory.Gust@noaa.gov The National Weather Service will typically issue a warning for one or both of the following reasons; Doppler radar detects severe weather or SKYWARN spotters report severe weather. If a warning is issued for your location, you are in danger and need to seek shelter. The biggest supporters of the SKYWARN program are emergency response officials and amateur radio operators. One of the best ways to get involved is to talk with an amateur radio operator. If you have a scanner, tune in to a local amateur radio SKYWARN net (see list below) to get a feel for what is involved. Amateur Radio Networks |
| Amateur Radio SKYWARN Frequencies in: | |
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Northwest Minnesota
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Eastern North Dakota
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Most of these sites can be linked together. In times of severe weather, this "link" allows amateur radio operators at the NWS in Grand Forks to communicate with those directly affected by the storm. The callsign for the NWS in Grand Forks is NoGF. Amateur radio operators are a vital part of the NWS severe weather warning program. Amateur Radio Clubs Amateur Radio Links |
