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The Goals Of Amateur Radio Skywarn

1) TO HAVE A NETWORK OF SPOTTERS IN PLACE TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER

 2) TO ACTIVATE THIS NETWORK AS NEEDED

 3) TO COORDINATE REPORTS FROM THE SPOTTERS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER

 4) TO RELAY THESE REPORTS TO THE NWS IN A TIMELY MANNER

• Receive a call from the NWS requesting reports

• NOAA Weather Radio, local TV or radio, if your county is under a Severe Thunderstorm/Flash Flood/or Tornado Warning, there is no doubt that the NWS needs your reports.

• Tune to your local repeater, where SKYWARN nets are held. Others may have begun to activate the net.

• If you are hearing reports on the repeater that meet the criteria set by the NWS.

• Request by EMA or other county official

 Please note: The need for activation occurs when only one of these criteria are met.

• TORNADOS

• FUNNEL CLOUDS

• WALL CLOUDS

• ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS

• WIND GUSTS (ESTIMATED OR MEASURED 45 MPH OR MORE)

• WIND DAMAGE (TO LIMBS, TREES, ROOFS, ETC.)

• HAIL (WITH DIAMETER OF LARGEST STONES)

• FLOODING (BASEMENTS, EXTENSIVE STREET FLOODING, SMALL STREAMS)

• HEAVY RAIN (0.75 INCHES OR GREATER IN 1 HOUR OR LESS OR 3 INCHES IN ANY TIME FRAME LESS THAN 24 HOURS)

• CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING FIRE/DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING

• ANY DEATH OR INJURY DUE TO ANY OF THE ABOVE

 Remember to always give the three most important parts of a report

1. TIME - TIME OF OCCURRENCE

2. EVENT - HAIL, TORNADO, FUNNEL CLOUD, ETC.

3. LOCATION - COUNTY AND DIRECTION/DISTANCE FROM NEAREST TOWN

 Often severe storms strike quickly and are isolated in our area. There will be times when there is  no radio operator at the NWS to make direct contacts to you. This is when your main link to the  NWS is via the 800 Severe Weather Hotline. One person, often the Net Control Station, should be  delegated to using the HOTLINE to relay severe weather reports. This will avoid duplication and  keep the 800 lines free. Whenever calling the Severe Weather Hotline  identify yourself as a  SKYWARN  member in Mercer County.

 The radio operator at the NWS can provide information on the current watch/warning status for  your county and a brief radar synopsis. It is up to the net control operator to determine what level of  net activation is required given certain circumstances. The degree needed varies, but could be  effectively arranged in a four-tier system.

When used: Used during ALL Tornado Watches and during Severe Thunderstorm Watches when  active weather is occurring.

 Nets for Flood/Flash Flood Watches are normally not required. There may be exceptions when the  NWS would request additional spotter reports, ex. remnants of a tropical storm moving through the  area.

 The first priority, during condition GREEN, would be taking and relaying weather reports to the NWS.  Second would be check-ins. The Net Control Station takes control of frequency and gives frequent  updates on net status and weather watches. Prepare for further upgrade as storms approach or if  severe weather reports begin coming in.

 Priority must be given to collecting and relaying weather reports, No check-ins or checkouts at this  time. Net Contol will announce warning information frequently. Only reports meeting the criteria  mentioned earlier should be requested. "It's not raining here" reports are not needed, unless  requested.

When used: If a TORNADO WARNING has been issued for your county.

 Net Control Station takes total control of frequency. Net Control requests tornado, funnel cloud and  wall cloud reports. If there are no tornadic reports, Net Contol requests reports meeting the above  criteria. Stations without one of the above reports should maintain radio silence. Net control will  relay Tornado Warning information frequently.

 Condition RED events are rare. However, real emergency organization in these instances is what  will make the NWS, trained spotters and all licensed amateurs involved with ARES fulfill their  missions and shine.

 Often, if one waits until a warning is issued, it is too late to organize spotters, collect reports and  relay them to the NWS in a timely manner. Spotters are also requested to check-in/check-out in  Stand-by and Condition Green. This will help net control know where available spotters are before  the storm moves through the county.