Welcome to the
This page is designed to provide SKYWARN Spotters with up to
date information on current weather conditions, watches, warnings, and
advisories that have been issued, severe weather
forecast products, information on radio frequencies, and weekly training nets
for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. There are links to each National Weather
Service Forecast Office that covers
Announcements of upcoming spotter training sessions will be posted to this page.
SKYWARN Spotters provide an invaluable service to the
National Weather Service and to the citizens of this state by providing Ground
Truth Information on a variety of severe weather conditions that may affect
There are three methods for spotters to communicate observations to the NWS. They are the 800 spotter phone lines, Internet Spotter Report Forms on the NWS web pages, and SKYWARN weather nets for FCC licensed Amateur Radio Operators. Spotters that do not have an amateur radio license are encouraged to obtain one. The Morse code requirement has been eliminated as part of the testing process. The written test for the Technician Class entry level license requires correctly answering a minimum of 28 out of 35 multiple choice questions. The motto of Amateur Radio is “When All Else Fails.” When storm damage knocks out electricity, telephone lines, and cell phone sites, the only method left to communicate your observations is through Amateur Radio. Each NWS Office has an Amateur Radio Station that is staffed by volunteers during severe weather in order to continue receiving spotter reports from areas where storm damage has interrupted other methods of communication.
I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to all who volunteer for and support the SKYWARN program. Without the support of the county coordinators, assistant coordinators, net control stations, and the spotters in the field this program would not be successful.
Very Truly Yours,
Steve Williams K1SJW