SKYWARN Nets

During severe weather the Madison County ARES conducts a weather net on the 146.865MHz FM repeater in Richmond. Information gathered from weather spotters is forwarded directly to the National Weather Service in Lexington. This net runs in conjunction with the Jessamine Amateur Wireless Society and the Bluegrass Amateur Radio Society nets held on 145.490MHz and 146.760MHz frequencies, respectively. Information passed through these nets can be invaluable to public service officials. In a number of instances, information via amateur radio with respect to weather, has been faster than the bulletins from the National Weather Service.

The Madison County Weather Net plan will be implemented in the following order.

 1. Non-Alert Readiness - The Emergency Coordinator (EC), or any of the assistant ECs based on his or her judgment, may inform stations via the 146.865MHz FM repeater that a severe weather condition may soon develop and request that all stations keep their transmissions as short as possible and allow several seconds between transmissions so that other stations may break in if necessary.

This should be given as an informal advisory and not as a request to clear the frequency, but rather to keep the frequency reasonably open.

2. Stand-By Alert - This alert is sounded by the EC assistant ECs or Net Control Station specifically designated by the EC or an assistant EC to issue the alert for a particular situation.

This action is taken when the Nation Weather Service has issued a watch or warning for Madison county or counties adjacent to Madison county including Garrard, Fayette, Jessamine, Rockcastle Estill and Jackson.

3. Emergency Alert - This alert is issued by the EC or assistant EC or a Net Control Station specifically designated by the EC or assistant EC to do so. A directed net is established on the 146.865MHz FM repeater. Participating stations are directed to check in, and information requested by the National Weather Service is provided as well as the times at which that information is to be reported.

Madison County ARES Manual

Weather Related Links
 National Weather Service, Louisville, Kentucky    KentuckyWeather   Louisville Radar Image

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