SkyWarn

SKYWARN is a national network of over 250,000 trained SkyWarn volunteer severe-weather spotters who help keep their local communities safe by reporting significant weather events to NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS).

Since the program’s inception in the early 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN spotters, has enabled the NWS to issue more timely and accurate life-saving severe weather warnings. Spotters provide the real time info necessary for an effective warning system. Reports are used by NWS forecasters to send out public statements, warnings and advisories, and short-term forecasts via the internet, NOAA Weather Radio, the media and other commercial services.

The Burlington NWS conducts several SKYWARN spotter training sessions aropund the State each year. The programs cover all aspects of severe weather across the North Country, with particular focus specific to the season (e.g. winter weather, spring flooding, summer thunderstorms). Typical topics:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

The talks are free, open to the public, last about 2 hours, and attendees will have the opportunity to become certified Skywarn weather spotters for the National Weather Service.

Many spotters are hams who use their radios to check into daily weather nets to report conditions in their areas (see right-hand column above), and to make direct reports to the NWS during severe weather events. Spotters who are not hams use a special phone number to report significant weather events in their area. Email John Goff, SkyWarn Program Leader in Burlington, for more info.