SKYWARNTM
SKYWARNTM is a national effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies with an expanding network of trained weather spotters. The services performed by SKYWARNTM spotters have saved many lives.
The National Weather Service has a number of devices for detecting severe thunderstorms. Included in these are Doppler radar, satellite, and lightning detection networks. However, the most important tool for observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the storm spotter.
By providing observations, SKYWARNTM spotters assist National Weather Service members in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.
Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensible part of the severe local warning program.
The National Weather Service office in
Buffalo participated in the 14th Annual ARRL - SKYWARNTM special event on December
1, 2012. For details on the national event, QSL
instructions and the rest of the statistics, check out the the Special
event homepage.
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Western and Northern NY SKYWARNTM frequency map An illustrated SKYWARNTM spotter guide Other SKYWARNTM Sites: NWS Binghamton SKYWARNTM Homepage |
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HOW DOES SKYWARNTM WORK WITH AMATEUR RADIO?
Amateur radio volunteers operate a base
station at the Buffalo Weather Service Office during severe weather or
other weather disaster emergencies. Through a network of repeater
antennas, volunteers at the Buffalo office contact other amateurs -located
in communities throughout Western New York. Storm information is
collected at the base station for rapid relay by forecasters to the media,
Emergency Management and Law Enforcement agencies, and the public.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the NWS and the Amateur Radio Relay
League (ARRL) is available online.
WHY DO HAMS MAKE GOOD SKYWARNTM SPOTTERS?
Hams operate on emergency power when
commercial power is lost so reports can still be received. Reports are
received in a timely, efficient manner. Unlike police, fire, and other
government emergency response persons, amateur radio operators have no
jurisdictional boundaries. Amateur radio spotters are able and
willing to perform their service for extended periods. SKYWARNTM spotters
are trained to have a knowledge of severe weather characteristics not only
to ensure they are able to recognize these, but also to avoid erroneously
reporting non- hazardous conditions. In Western New York, any amateur radio
operator can become a SKYWARNTM spotter.
For more information about SKYWARNTM contact:
Via email:
By mail:
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