18/01: National Weather Service SKYWARN Class
By: Krissy Scotten, National Weather Service in Memphis
Have you ever wondered how the National Weather Service knows how to issue severe weather warnings? Doppler radar and satellite images are great tools to aid a forecaster during severe weather events. Unfortunately, technology is not a perfect science, so the National Weather Service must rely on other sources for severe weather information. This is why the National Weather Service established SKYWARN which is a volunteer program that trains severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to their local National Weather Service office. These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings.
On October 25th, 2008, I traveled to Alamo, TN to give a SKYWARN Spotter Talk to the concerned citizens of Crockett County. It was a packed house for a Saturday morning, especially since this was the day of the Alabama vs. Tennessee football game! The class lasted around two hours, and we covered topics such as types of thunderstorms, safety during severe weather, how to spot developing wall clouds, funnel clouds, and even tornadoes.
Are you interested in becoming a SKYWARN storm spotter? The National Weather Service encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such as HAM radio operators, to join the SKYWARN program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, HAM radio operators, public utility workers, and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, and nursing homes, or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become spotters.
SKYWARN storm spotters form the first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts give communities the precious gift of time that can help save lives.
If you are interested in becoming a SKYWARN storm spotter, there will be two presentations at the Crockett County Emergency Management Agency’s office located at 168 North Bells St. in Alamo, Tennessee in 2009.
Advanced Spotter Training: March 14th, 2009
Basic Spotter Training: October 24th, 2009
For more information, please contact me, Krissy Scotten at Kristin.Scotten@noaa.gov or Robert McLaughlin at ki4wkw@ducks-pond.com. I hope to see you there!
Have you ever wondered how the National Weather Service knows how to issue severe weather warnings? Doppler radar and satellite images are great tools to aid a forecaster during severe weather events. Unfortunately, technology is not a perfect science, so the National Weather Service must rely on other sources for severe weather information. This is why the National Weather Service established SKYWARN which is a volunteer program that trains severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to their local National Weather Service office. These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings.
On October 25th, 2008, I traveled to Alamo, TN to give a SKYWARN Spotter Talk to the concerned citizens of Crockett County. It was a packed house for a Saturday morning, especially since this was the day of the Alabama vs. Tennessee football game! The class lasted around two hours, and we covered topics such as types of thunderstorms, safety during severe weather, how to spot developing wall clouds, funnel clouds, and even tornadoes.
Are you interested in becoming a SKYWARN storm spotter? The National Weather Service encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such as HAM radio operators, to join the SKYWARN program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, HAM radio operators, public utility workers, and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, and nursing homes, or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become spotters.
SKYWARN storm spotters form the first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts give communities the precious gift of time that can help save lives.
If you are interested in becoming a SKYWARN storm spotter, there will be two presentations at the Crockett County Emergency Management Agency’s office located at 168 North Bells St. in Alamo, Tennessee in 2009.
Advanced Spotter Training: March 14th, 2009
Basic Spotter Training: October 24th, 2009
For more information, please contact me, Krissy Scotten at Kristin.Scotten@noaa.gov or Robert McLaughlin at ki4wkw@ducks-pond.com. I hope to see you there!