SKYWARN Cleveland County, Oklahoma
There are three goals for SKYWARN: 1) Gather first hand reports of weather events which meet or exceed severe thresholds (as defined by the NWS) and pass them on to the local Forecast office in a timely manner; 2) Disseminate severe weather information to spotters in the field so they may better prepare themselves, their families, and/or their organizations; 3) Provide timely severe weather information to local, county and state officials as needed.
SKYWARN Operations Plan (updated December, 2006)  |  Current WX Info  |  Participating Organizations  |  NOAA   |   Online Resources
WRSAME FIPS Codes for NWSFO Norman CWA

ATTENTION AUTHORIZED SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND LEAD OPERATORS

The OPERATIONS PLAN and NET CONTROL SCRIPTS have been updated!

See SKYWARN Operations Plan for more info.

Spotter Training Workshops - 2008

...SEARCH THE LISTINGS FOR A TRAINING WORKSHOP IN YOUR AREA...

...Listings may be revised as the workshop date(s) approach, so check back for the most recent information!

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS OF A GENERAL NATURE, AND WILL BE OF INTEREST TO ANYONE DESIRING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NATURE OF STORMS AND FORCASTING.

Information is the key to being a good spotter. Below, you will find links to various information sources, including the Storm Prediction Center's "Day 1" and "Day 2" outlooks, the Norman NWS Forecast Office's Hazardous Weather Outlook ("HWO"), as well as watches and warnings. You are strongly encouraged to check these sources at least once a day.

The links here are intended to help keep you up to date with potential severe weather threats. By looking at the Day 1 and Day 2 Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center ("SPC"), you can get an idea of what's going to be happening over the next 24 to 48 hours. The Hazardous Weather Outlook ("HWO") is produced at the Norman office and gives a more precise forecast of severe weather for the next 12 to 24 hours. By making a habit of consulting these products every day, you won't be surprised when your weather radio sounds it's alarm.

Current Weather Info

Please see the various disclaimers regarding availability and timeliness on the web sites of the various information providers. In the case of statements, watches and warnings, please note date, time and originating Forecast Office!

• Oklahoma Watches and Warnings from your NWS.
  • Watch Map courtesy SPC.
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• Hazardous Weather Outlook and other Special Weather Statements
  
  
• SPC Convective Outlooks
  
  

  Day 1 Outlooks are issued at 0600, 1500, 1900 and 0200 UTC. Day 2 outlooks are issued at 0800 and 1800 UTC.

  A guide to SPC products - Chris Hayes Novy, SIU and Roger Edwards, SPC

  • From the SPC:
    • Day 1 Outlook: Discussion | Map
    • Day 2 Outlook: Discussion | Map

    
    

  • College of DuPage NEXLAB
    • Day 1 Outlook: Plain English | Map
    • Day 2 Outlook: Plain English | Map

    
    
    

• Oklahoma Weather Roundup - courtesy the OU School of Meteorology
• Current Conditions in Norman

Participating Organizations

• South Canadian Amateur Radio Society - SCARS members are very active, and regularly grant the use of their repeater facilities (147.06) during severe weather operations. Coordination and liaison between ham operators and local public safety organizations is provided by Jeff Wyke, KT5OK. (JLWyke@hotmail.com)
  
• City of Norman Emergency Management - The Emergency Manager for the City of Norman is David Grizzle, KD5ZLG (David.Grizzle@ci.norman.ok.us)

• City of Moore Emergency Management - For many years, Moore Emergency Management has coordinated a GMRS-based REACT spotter group. GMRS operates on frequencies in the 462 MHz range (462.6750 and 462.6000 being active for WX). The amateur radio "side" coordinates with Moore EOC in an attempt to prevent duplication of effort between ham radio operators and REACT operators acting as spotters.  The Emergency Manager for the City of Moore is Gayland Kitch, KC5MMU (gkitch@ci.moore.ok.us).  Gayland also coordinates the REACT spotter group.

NOAA - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• National Weather Service Forecast Office, Norman. NWSFO Norman is responsible for a variety of regional forecast products including all severe weather warnings, for Central Oklahoma and Western North Texas.
  
  
  • An illustrated spotter's guide
  • Glossary of weather terms for spotters - NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-145
  • Central Oklahoma SKYWARN Network

  
  

• Storm Prediction Center - A NOAA National Center for Environmental Prediction located in Norman, Oklahoma. The SPC provides forecast guidance to local forecast offices and issues all tornado and severe thunderstorm watches for the "lower 48".
  
  
• National Severe Storms Laboratory - A NOAA Environmental Research Lab located in Norman, Oklahoma. A world-class severe weather research lab. Contrary to popular belief (aided and abetted by the media), NSSL does NOT issue forecasts, watches or warnings of any kind. They do however, provide the basic research that is constantly increasing the lead time for warnings and the accuracy of those warnings.

Online Resources

• Tornado Safety Information - courtesy Moore Emergency Management
• Storm Chasing with Safety, Courtesy, and Responsibility - Charles A. Doswell III
• NOAA's advanced spotter slide set, A Look At Thunderstorms And Their Severe Weather Potential - courtesy UIUC's Online Guide to Meteorology
• The Weather Channel

counted this number of visits since 4/18/00
Last Update: December 5, 2007 by Jeff Wyke, KT5OK
URL: http://www.qsl.net/clevelandcoskywarn/index.shtml