ALL SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND LEAD OPERATORS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES.
Please read the following information carefully. Be prepared AHEAD of time.
Questions and comments should be directed to: JLWyke@hotmail.com
You don't need to be a meteorologist to be a storm-spotter! No home weather station is necessary, no fancy "chase wagon". It's possible to be a spotter by just looking out the window and reporting severe-weather phenomena. In fact, as a Ham Radio Operator, you can be of great assistance during severe-weather outbreaks. All you need is your eyes and a radio with which to report what you see. During severe-weather outbreaks, weather reports will be taken from any and all locations within the affected areas. If the SKYWARN Net is activated, the Lead Operator will instruct storm-spotters on what criteria must be met before reports will be accepted. You may check-in to the Net with Callsign, name and location. Please be careful to report only conditions which closely resemble or meet those criteria given by the Lead Operator. ALWAYS go through net-control (Lead Operator), and give your information as clearly and calmly as possible.
The net, if activated, can be heard on the 147.060 repeater in Norman. Please see the SCARS website for information regarding transmit offset, PL tone, etc. (NO PL tone is required if the net is activated. That makes it possible for anyone who might not have the tone to still be able to get into the net to report storm activity). It is also recommended you set up your radio for SIMPLEX operation on 147.060, also - just in case the repeater goes off the air. For SIMPLEX operation, no PL tone is required, and you will program your radio to TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE on 147.060.
Authorized SKYWARN Spotters
What's the difference, you ask? Authorized SKYWARN spotters are those who have completed certain requirements, and are therefore more able to give accurate information when called upon to do so. Authorized SKYWARN spotters are also encouraged to make themselves available during severe weather outbreaks. So, the basic difference is this; you're not just a volunteer, you're a TRAINED volunteer!
To ensure the weather service and local emergency management officials receive timely weather reports of the highest quality, and to ensure maximum SKYWARN NET efficiency, hams wishing to participate as an AUTHORIZED SKYWARN SPOTTER:
Whenever possible, there will be 2 Lead Operators "on duty" when the SKYWARN Net is activated. Lead Operator 1 will assume primary responsibility for actual Net Control radio operations. Lead Operator 1 will activate the Net, read the appropriate script(s), take check-ins and record any weather observations from spotters. Lead Operator 2 will assist Lead Operator 1 by listening for and making record of any weather observations which meet National Weather Service severe-weather reporting criteria. Lead Operator 2 will be the one to relay that information to the weather service by way of phone or link repeater. Lead Operator 2 MUST have the ability to transmit and receive on BOTH the 147.060 freq. and the link repeater freq, and MUST be able to monitor one while transmitting on the other. Lead Operator 2 will relay any special information to Net Control (Lead Operator 1). If a situation makes it necessary, Net Control will allow Lead Operator 2 to communicate directly with a spotter to gain information urgently needed by the weather service. In the event that Net Control Lead Operator 1 is unable to access the repeater (weak battery, bad location, etc), Lead Operator 2 will IMMEDIATELY assume full Net Control responsibility. That means Lead Operator 2 must also have the scripts, maps, log sheets, etc available. When Lead Operator 1 is again able to assume RELIABLE communications, the Net will again assume the 2-operator status.
It is vitally important that all approved Lead Operators be aware of the weather outlooks and conditions at all times. If severe weather threatens, Lead Operators are expected to make every effort to be available should the need arise. Sometimes it will not be possible to have more than one Lead Operator. In those cases, the Lead Operator should be prepared to assume all duties. Lead Operators are encouraged to keep in touch by phone or radio and let any other authorized Lead Operator(s) know if they will be unavailable. It is very apparent that one's job, a vacation, etc, might keep one from being available. The important thing is to just try to keep one-another aware of when these things might interfere.
Qualifications for Net Control Station and Operator are:
Potential net control STATION: (equipment requirements. See next topic heading for OPERATOR requirements)
Qualifications for Net Control Lead Operator: Lead Operators 1 and 2 (MUST MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS)
Current Authorized Lead Operators (Meeting all the above qualifications):
KT5OK Jeff Wyke JLWyke@hotmail.com
KC5MMU Gayland Kitch gkitch@ci.moore.ok.us
During severe weather season, at approximately 0700 and 1300 hours, the NWSFO issues a Hazardous Weather Outlook . Among other things, the outlook gives general guidance to spotter groups regarding when or if they can expect to be activated during the next 12 to 24 hours. Whenever possible, a Lead Operator (probably Jeff, KT5OK) will broadcast the HWO on the 147.060 SCARS repeater. The broadcast will generally be made at 1:30 pm. It is possible the HWO will be broadcast more frequently if the need arises. All efforts will be made not to interrupt the normal use of the repeater during lunch and drive-time periods.
This outlook is distributed through a variety of means, including NOAA Weather Radio, local and national media, IWIN and EMWIN. Lead Operators are responsible for obtaining the outlook. Spotters are encouraged to obtain the outlook as well.
When conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, the Storm Prediction Center will issue a watch.
Once a watch is issued, an AUTHORIZED Lead Operator will change the tail on the repeater to indicate that a watch is in effect. The codes have been provided to AUTHORIZED Lead Operators. Under NO circumstances will the codes be provided to (or used by) an unauthorized person.
After the repeater tail has been changed to reflect the WATCH condition, the 147.060 repeater is NOT TO BE USED FOR THE BROADCAST OF WEATHER/RADAR SUMMARIES. Remember, the repeater is essentially "on-loan" for SKYWARN operations. We do not want to take advantage of that, nor do we want to falsely alarm anyone concerning weather conditions. The potential Lead Operator(s) and Spotters should, however, stay tuned to the repeater in case Net Activation becomes necessary. Lead Operators should use the other means available to them for weather and radar updates. If those sources begin to indicate that our County may soon change to a WARNING condition, then the Lead Operator will proceed to the next level. Under no circumstances should the terms, "SKYWARN," or, "NET CONTROL" be used prior to the activation of the Net. Any use of the repeater prior to the activation of the net should be for conversational purposes only. That can include references to the weather, but not anything which will falsely alert people who may be listening. Hams are not the only people listening. Detailed weather information may be obtained by listening to the Oklahoma State Emergency Management repeater on 145.410. LISTEN ONLY. Do not transmit on that repeater. Report unusual or severe weather conditions on the 147.060 repeater. The Lead Operator will decide whether or not to relay the information to the National Weather Service Control Operator on 145.410.
At some point, the Lead Operator will call the net. That point is different for every event and depends on the direction in which the storm cells are moving relative to the covered area. (This is where the training and experience pay off!!) ACTIVATION OF THE NET WILL MOST OFTEN COINCIDE WITH THE ISSUANCE OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING and/or TORNADO WARNING FOR CLEVELAND COUNTY. The lead operator will use his judgment after considering current location, direction and speed of storm cells. Occasionally, warnings are issued without a preceding watch due to weather moving into the area rapidly. In these situations, the Lead Operator will activate the net as quickly as possible and begin taking reports immediately. The repeater tail should be updated to "level 4,"("Emergency Net"), as the requirement for PL to access the repeater is then turned off, allowing easier access to all. At that time, SCARS has authorized the SKYWARN Lead Operator to restrict ALL traffic on the 147.060 repeater to severe-weather operations ONLY.
The Lead Operator will notify the operator at the NWS, via the link, that the local net has been activated. If time permits, a roll call will be taken. Amateur Radio Call signs (NO REACT UNIT NUMBERS OR OTHER JARGON) and locations will be recorded in the log. The appropriate script will be read at roughly ten minute intervals, with updates from the NWS as necessary. Solicitations will be made for first-hand reports of severe weather. As reports flow in, the Lead Operator will record the spotter's call sign, the current time, the time the event was observed (if different), a description of the event, the location, direction of movement and speed of the event. Ideally, only severe weather will get reported. This rarely happens, however, and all reports made on the local net should be logged. Sometimes, even the "minor" reports can indicate severe weather trends. Only reports that meet severe thresholds should be passed on to the NWS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All spotters are urged to use extreme caution and common sense when observing weather events. Again, this is where the training comes in. You are no good to anyone if you get hurt. Always consider your personal safety. If you want to be one of the "Code-3 Cowboys" - always trying to get in the middle of things without regard to safety, forget it. We don't need you. Save us all the trouble. SKYWARN Spotters are expected to act at the direction of the Lead Operator. Coordination is crucial. Hopefully, we will have enough participation so spotters can position themselves in key areas and watch general trends in the storm activity.
The Lead Operator will also monitor the link channel in order to relay information from the NWS forecasters back to the local area net. This information is vital for the spotters' own safety and is important for Emergency Management personnel as it often precedes official warnings by up to several minutes. The NCS will also coordinate with representatives of other nets in the county (i.e. Moore Emergency Management) as necessary to prevent duplication where possible and to provide verification where necessary.
When a severe thunderstorm is imminent, a tornado is sighted or is detected via radar, the NWS will issue a warning. The decision on exactly when and where to warn is based, at least in part, on information gathered by spotters.
If the SKYWARN Net has not been activated, it should now be activated by a Lead Operator. (if the warning is for Cleveland County, or if conditions warrant activation).
Last Update: December 19, 2004 by Jeff
Wyke, KT5OK
URL: http://www.qsl.net/clevelandcoskywarn/leadop.shtml