
(c) COPYRIGHT 1993,1996 DANIEL R. GROPPER
PERMISSION GRANTED FOR NON-PROFIT COPYING PROVIDED 
THAT SOURCE CREDIT IS GIVEN.
second edition June, 1996








Forward and Dedication

	This manual is dedicated to the SKYWARN volunteers who spend many hours in training classes to be ready to participate in SKYWARN severe weather nets in Amateur Radio's finest public service tradition. The SKYWARN system works ONLY because the volunteers make it work. It takes real dedication to drop whatever you are doing to participate in a SKYWARN Net, which may last for one hour or for many days.

	This manual is also dedicated to the National Weather Service (NWS). Over the past two years that I have been working with SKYWARN, I have only a growing respect for the hours of training and dedication each NWS staff member takes to fulfill the NWS mission of saving lives and property through the issuance of timely and accurate watches and warnings. Despite all the technology, the forecasting of weather is still an art and we are very fortunate to have such talented and dedicated forecasters in the Washington Forecast Office. Much thanks, praise and admiration goes to the entire NWS staff, but I would be remiss if I did not give special mention to Jim Belville, Meteorologist in Charge, and Bill Comeaux, his deputy, who have both seen to it that SKYWARN would be given high priority. Not enough can be said about Barbara McNaught and Melody Hall who are the physical embodiments of SKYWARN. These two meteorologists have taken the Washington SKYWARN program from an idea to a model for the country.

	Finally, this manual is dedicated to my family, Gayle, Richard and Allison who put up with a lot to support the program including pagers and phone calls in the middle of the night, missed meals and letting me spend as much time as needed to keep the SKYWARN system working.

	This manual will never be finished! Each SKYWARN activation provides new challenges. No two activations are the same. The goal is to take the lessons learned and effectively integrate them into the SKYWARN system to be in the best possible position to be ready for "the next one", which always comes! 

						Daniel R. Gropper, KC4OCG
						SKYWARN Amateur Radio 
						Operations Coordinator
						May, 1993


Forward and Dedication
(1996)

	It is hard to believe that it has been almost three years since the original SKYWARN Operations Manual was prepared and distributed. 

	Since that time the program has been awarded a U.S. Department of Commerce Public Service award by Dr. Joe Friday, the Director of the National Weather Service, which was reported in the American Radio Relay League's national QST magazine. We have lived through record setting weather events from hurricanes and floods to blizzards and we have seen the Internet become a major source of weather information with many forecast offices and the National Weather Service headquarters having their own home pages.

	We are pleased that the organizational and operational structure setup in 1993 has proven itself time and time again, not only in the Washington, DC area, but also around the country. We have proven, at least locally, that 1500 volunteer trained severe weather spotters spread out over 10,000 square miles and four states (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia) can reliably observe and report the occurrence of severe weather to the National Weather Service in an accurate and timely manner.

	The goal of this second edition of the SKYWARN manual is to update procedures with lessens learned and to incorporate information about weather on the Internet. A number of the scripts have also been updated and hopefully improved!

	Finally, with special thanks, I wish to commend Jorge Thevenet, KD4DGQ, who is just finishing his two year term as the Washington, DC area SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator. He ably proved that the coordinator's position can be held by new people with the program only improving as a result. 


						Daniel R. Gropper, KC4OCG
						SKYWARN Amateur Radio 
						Training Coordinator
						June, 1996

SKYWARN NET CONTROL OPERATIONS MANUAL

I.  INTRODUCTION and ORGANIZATION	1
1.1 Purpose of This Manual	1
1.2 Purpose of SKYWARN	1
1.3 Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN	2
1.4 Organizational Structure of SKYWARN	3
1.5 SKYWARN's Relationship to ARRL/ARES/RACES/REACT	3
1.5.1 Federal Communications Commission, Part 97 and SKYWARN 
	and NOAA Weather Radio Alerts	4
1.5.2 SKYWARN Advisory Committee	5
1.5.3 RED CROSS WINTER 4 WHEEL DRIVE PROGRAM	6
1.6 Role of SKYWARN Net Control	6
1.7.1 SKYWARN Management	7
1.7.1 Role of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator	8
II.  ACTIVATION of SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO NET	10
2.1 NWS Decision to Activate SKYWARN	10
2.2 Activation Time Frames and Requested Staffing	10
2.3 NWS SKYWARN Net Activation Steps BY NWS FORECASTERS	10
2.4 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Activation Steps	12
2.4.1 Net Control Operator Personnel List	13
2.4.2 NWS Communication Emergency Procedure	13
III.  NET CONTROL OPERATOR PROCEDURES	15
3.1 Behavioral Rules	15
3.1.1 Do Not Bring Children With You	15
3.1.2 NWS Forecast Office Operating Conditions	15
3.1.3 No More Than Three (3) Volunteers at the SKYWARN
	Amateur Radio Station at One Time	15
3.1.4 Preparations for Extended Activation	15
3.1.5 How To Volunteer for Net Control Duty	17
3.1.6 Interaction With The Forecasters	17
3.1.7 Handling Non-Severe Weather Reports	17
3.1.8 The 147.300 WA4TSC Repeater and the NVTN	18
3.1.9 Emergency Broadcast Radio	19
3.2 Operating Rules	19
3.2.1 Access to NWS	19
3.2.2 Briefing Upon Arrival at the NWS	19
3.2.3 Net Liaison Initial Setup	19
3.2.4 Remote Net Control Volunteers	20
3.3 Closing the SKYWARN Net	21
3.4 SKYWARN SubNet Procedures	22
3.5 Remote Net Control	23
3.6 Local Weather Nets	23
3.7 Interfacing with Other Groups	24
3.8 SWITCHING NET TO ALTERNATE REPEATERS	25
IV.  SKYWARN NET CONTROL SCRIPTS	26
4.1 SKYWARN Script #1 - SUMMER	26
4.2 SKYWARN Script #2 - SUMMER:	27
4.3 SKYWARN Script #3 - SUMMER	28
4.4 SKYWARN Script #1 - WINTER:	29
4.5 SKYWARN Script #2 - WINTER	30
4.6 SKYWARN Script #3 - WINTER	31
4.7 SKYWARN Net Closing Script:	32
V. SKYWARN PACKET OPERATIONS	33
VI. HURRICANE WATCH and/or WARNING	34
VII. SKYWARN HF OPERATIONS	36
VIII. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC RELATIONS and AUTOCALL	37
IX. DESCRIPTION of the SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO STATION	39
X. NWS BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON FORECAST OFFICE INFORMATION and DIRECTIONS	41
XI. Weather on the Internet	42
XI.   APPENDIXES	
11.1  NWS County Warning Area of Responsibility for Severe Weather
		and Goals for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net
11.2  MOU ARRL and NWS
	11.2.1 MOU REACT and NWS
11.3  MOU Virginia ARES and RACES
11.4  Information (Used with permission of Hurricane Watch Net)
		11.4.1 	Time Zone Conversions
		11.4.2 	Net Prowords
		11.4.3 	Q Signals
		11.4.4 	Hurricane Tracking Chart
		11.4.5 	Conversion Formulas (knots/mph etc.)
		11.4.6 	Dvorak Pressure/Wind Curve
		11.4.7 	Distance Conversion Chart
		11.4.8 	Safer-Simpson Scale 
		11.4.9 	Safer-Simpson (from NWS Hurricanes!)
		11.4.10	Hurricane Safety Advice (from NWS Hurricanes!)
11.5  VA Emergency Net Information
11.6  Amateur Frequency HF/VHF/UHF Allocation Chart, Band Plan and 
	  Country Prefix codes (Used with permission of 
	  Icom America, Inc.)
11.7  Articles Written About SKYWARN
11.8  HamTalk Network Map
11.9  DAREN (WV Packet) 
11.10 TMARC Repeater and BBS Maps and Lists
11.11 ARRL NTS Formal Traffic Forms and Instructions
11.12 ARRL Emergency Nets (Used with permission of the ARRL)
11.13 Family Disaster Plan
11.14 Fire, Police, NWS and Emergency Telephone Numbers
11.15 Virginia SKYWARN District Map
11.16 SKYWARN Advisory Committee Description
11.17 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Description
11.18 Winter Storm Report Form
	11.19 Summer Storm Report Form
	11.20 FCC Report and Order on Rule 97.113 
		Use of Amateur Radio Frequencies

SKYWARN NET CONTROL OPERATIONS MANUAL

I.  INTRODUCTION and ORGANIZATION

1.1 Purpose of This Manual

This manual is designed to be used as a reference guide for SKYWARN Net Operation in the jurisdictions under the National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore-Washington, DC, Forecast Office's warning area of responsibility for severe weather. The forecast office is physically located near Dulles Airport in Sterling, VA. 

The Washington area SKYWARN Net has a large area of responsibility which roughly extends from the Pennsylvania border south to Charlottesville, VA and Fredericksburg, VA and from the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay west to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. A detailed map of this warning area is Appendix 11.1 of this manual. Net Control operators should continually strive to learn more about the diverse geography of this immense area.

Training cannot, and should not, take place "on the job" during severe weather.  Proper training is essential for the effective flow of information between SKYWARN spotters and the NWS and/or emergency management personnel. This includes training for spotters as well as net control volunteers. To be effective, everyone in the SKYWARN "system" needs to know their roles BEFORE severe weather strikes.

1.2 Purpose of SKYWARN

SKYWARN is the NWS national program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters.  SKYWARN volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens.  SKYWARN, formed in the early 1970's, has historically provided critical severe weather information to the NWS in time to get appropriate warnings issued. Thus the key focus of the SKYWARN program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers. 

Each NWS forecast office runs its own SKYWARN program.  The Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office has worked diligently to make its SKYWARN program a model for the country. Although our SKYWARN system has been acknowledged as one of the better operations in the country, it is a goal and a challenge to continually improve the SKYWARN system and to integrate new technologies and procedures to best fulfill SKYWARN's mission of saving lives and property.

1.3 Role of Amateur Radio in SKYWARN

Amateur radio has been, and always will be, a critical component of the Baltimore-Washington area SKYWARN program. In the National Capital Area we are extremely fortunate to have hundreds of trained SKYWARN spotters who are also amateur radio operators.  This dual role for amateur radio operators is a natural result of their inherent interest and fascination with natural and scientific phenomena (especially the weather!) and with cutting edge technology such as Doppler radar and lightning detection devices. When this fascination is combined with the ability and desire to be trained to communicate severe weather observations via amateur radio in a professional and effective manner, the synergy is hard to duplicate. Finally, amateur radio operators have a long history of using their training, skills and equipment in uncompensated public service to help the community at large, which is precisely the focus of the SKYWARN system.

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station and computer equipment uses mostly donated equipment and is maintained by amateur radio operators volunteering their time and expertise. The initial grant to fund the station came from The Foundation for Amateur Radio, Inc. Their foresight in providing the grant to purchase state-of-the-art equipment is appreciated more with each successful activation of the SKYWARN net. In addition to being an extremely usable and reliable station, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station, located in the forecast office, provides a visible and professional focal point for the importance of amateur radio to the NWS, even when SKYWARN is not activated. This is extremely important as the NWS annually receives many thousands of visitors at the forecast office, from elementary school students through high ranking government officials and emergency managers. This is the reason for the bright colored orange signs identifying each component of the radio station.

The close working relationship between the NWS and the amateur radio community provides many special benefits to each group. These benefits are highlighted in the following goals for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net:

1.	To provide the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports via amateur radio.  This includes both incoming reports of severe weather per the NWS criteria and amateur radio operators making observations at specific locations in response to a NWS request.  For example, amateurs have often been asked to monitor river and creek flooding situations at certain critical points.

2.	To create and maintain an organized communication network for passing critical severe weather traffic in a timely fashion to and from the NWS in the event that normal communications have been interrupted. The NWS has lost normal communications services in the past and it is likely that the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net would be activated in future communications emergencies. 

	We have recently regularly experienced an overloaded telephone network during storms. This is probably due to the huge number of people using telephone modems and fax machines to communicate from home during storms. While the telephone system may not be "down", it make take 30 minutes or more to telephone the forecast office. At these peak usage times, amateur radio plays a critical role in relaying severe weather observations to the forecast office.

3.	To disseminate warnings and special weather statements issued by the NWS to the amateur radio community. Every attempt is made to read special and severe weather statements issued by the NWS over the SKYWARN Net to keep amateurs informed of developing situations and to practice for situations when normal communications channels fail. 

4.	To organize and train amateur radio operators to prepare themselves and their families for disaster or emergency weather related situations so that they may be available to assist in emergency net operations. This preparedness training is critical if the SKYWARN system is to be expected to operate reliably during true emergency situations.

1.4 Organizational Structure of SKYWARN

SKYWARN is NOT a club. It is a true volunteer public service whose membership is open to all who wish to participate. All reports of severe weather through the SKYWARN system are appreciated. The scripts have been set up to outline the NWS criteria for severe weather on which observations are requested so that untrained observers may participate. Despite the scripts, all net participants are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the excellent, interesting and free training provided by the NWS covering subject matter from basic SKYWARN training through specialized courses in winter storms and hurricanes.

1.5 SKYWARN's Relationship to ARRL/ARES/RACES/REACT  

The Amateur Radio operator's participation in the SKYWARN program is formally acknowledged and encouraged in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the NWS. A copy of this MOU is Appendix 11.2 to this manual. This agreement indicates that the ARRL will encourage its local volunteer groups operating as the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) to provide the NWS with spotters and communicators as requested by the NWS during times of severe weather. 

Many civil disasters are a direct result of severe weather and/or are exacerbated by severe weather. Accordingly, the NWS may utilize the SKYWARN amateur radio operators not only to obtain and disseminate severe weather observations and warnings, but may also use the amateur radio operators to maintain close coordination with Emergency Managers under Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). The importance of this additional role for SKYWARN was demonstrated during Hurricane I.E. Zelda, a training exercise in March of 1992, in which an extremely strong (all paper) hurricane devastated a huge portion of Virginia and Maryland, and during the actual Hurricane Andrew, an extremely powerful hurricane that devastated parts of Florida and Louisiana during August 1992.

In Virginia and West Virginia ARES and RACES operate as one organization. In Maryland and the District of Columbia ARES and RACES work in close coordination with each other. A copy of the MOU between the Virginia Dept. of Emergency Services, ARES and RACES, which describes the activation of RACES and its relationship to ARES, is Appendix 11.3 to this manual. 

Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams (REACT) also support SKYWARN. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the NWS and REACT is Appendix 11.2.1 to this manual. REACT nets may take reports of severe weather and relay them to the NWS either by normal communications modes (phone, FAX etc.) or by linking up with a REACT member who is also an amateur radio operator who can relay the severe weather information to SKYWARN Net Control through the SKYWARN amateur radio frequencies. Although it may take some creativity and organization, the goal is to include all groups in the SKYWARN system who wish to participate. The REACT interface has worked effectively and has gotten many reports from travelers passing through the area.

1.5.1 Federal Communications Commission, Part 97 and SKYWARN and NOAA Weather Radio Alerts

On July 28, 1993 the Federal Communications Commission issued a Report and Order based on PR Docket 92-136, which revised Amateur Radio Rule 97 C.F.R. 113, which governs "prohibited transmissions" on amateur radio frequencies. The Report and Order is Appendix 11.21 to this manual.

This rule change has two major effects on the use of amateur radio in the SKYWARN program. First, in the Report and Order, the FCC specifically permits the use of amateur radio, "...to collect data for the National Weather Service." Before this explicit statement there was a great deal of discussion over whether SKYWARN type activities were a permissible amateur radio activity.

Second, 97.113 (e) permits the retransmission of, "..weather forecast information intended for use by the general public and originated from the United States Government stations", on an intermittent basis, on amateur radio frequencies. This has permitted amateurs to link NOAA Weather Radio directly to amateur radio repeaters. 

This feature has proven a great benefit in activating SKYWARN as most SKYWARN participants learn of SKYWARN's activation through the issuance of warnings on NOAA Weather Radio. We have successfully integrated the NOAA Weather Radio alert tone into a number of local repeaters. Our system also gives amateurs DTMF (touch tone) access to live NOAA Weather Radio rebroadcast through the repeaters.  

The NWS also announces, over NOAA Weather Radio, that SKYWARN has been activated. This announcement is followed by the local amateur radio frequency. These announcements have significantly improved net participation. 

We have been told that this system has not only alerted SKYWARN participants of the weather situation, but has also warned boaters and motorists listening to scanners of deteriorating weather conditions. In many instances, this simple early warning of an upcoming storm was enough to get people to seek safe shelter. Thus, we have made great communications strides in not only linking the NWS to amateur radio during severe weather, but in providing a valuable and potentially life saving public service.

1.5.2 SKYWARN Advisory Committee

With the modernization and restructuring of the NWS, most offices now face the challenges of multi-state coordination. The objective is to set up a system that is transparent to jurisdictional boundaries and uniformly operates across the entire SKYWARN area of responsibility. To achieve this goal, the Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office has formed a SKYWARN advisory committee comprised of representatives from ARES, RACES and REACT in each state (WV,VA,MD/DC). The outline of the advisory committee's goals and functions is Appendix 11.16 to this manual. 

The advisory committee has worked better than we had anticipated! The committee meets once per quarter at the NWS forecast office. We try to limit the meeting length to 1 1/2 hours and we try to meet on a Saturday morning. An agenda for the current meeting and minutes for the previous meeting are mailed to the advisory committee representatives about a week before each meeting. The meeting is run by the Warning Coordination Meteorologist. The Training Coordinator brings the donuts and soda! (Critical job!!) These features keep the meetings short and focused.

The revised scripts are a direct result of discussion of the coordinators. The input and interaction of the representatives from each of the served states (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and District of Columbia) and groups (ARES, RACES, REACT) in each area, has helped to solve operational problems, confirm things that went well during an activation, and highlight areas which need improvement. Many new subnets and repeaters have been seemlessly added to the SKYWARN system as a result of the club and trustee representatives participating in the coordinating meetings. Perhaps, most importantly, these meetings have served to bring key SKYWARN people together on a regular basis which has greatly enhanced system wide cohesiveness. Overall, the coordinating committee has been one of the most successful innovations of the SKYWARN system.

1.5.3 RED CROSS WINTER 4 WHEEL DRIVE PROGRAM

During emergency situations (usually winter storms), the Red Cross may activate its volunteer 4 wheel drive program for essential personnel. If necessary, SKYWARN net control volunteers may ask the Red Cross for a 4 wheel drive ride to the NWS. 

Many times the 4 wheel volunteer is an amateur radio operator and will ask for weather guidance from the NWS forecasters through the SKYWARN net and may report impassable roads to the net. 

1.6 Role of SKYWARN Net Control  

SKYWARN Net Control is the critical role in any SKYWARN activation. It is a role that will always challenge all of an amateur radio operator's communications and technical skills. It is also an extremely responsible role in that the safety of lives and property may rest on the amateur's skills. Although this role is challenging, with proper training and experience, this role can also be extremely rewarding when a job is successfully completed.

It is the purpose of this manual to provide a framework for SKYWARN net control operation. While consistency of procedures from net to net is important, no two SKYWARN activations will be exactly the same. Therefore, the net control operator has the authority and responsibility to do everything necessary, within FCC rules, to ensure that the SKYWARN mission is performed to the best of his or her abilities. 

It is essential that SKYWARN net control operators be familiar with the operation of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station, as well as NWS procedures, to be able to do an effective job.

We have found from experience that each Net Control shift, which can and usually is run from the Amateur's house, should be about 45 minutes in length. It is important to designate a "scheduler" for each event. Trained net control personnel should check in on the net with the scheduler and get a shift. We have found that this lets many people serve and get experience as the net control station. Additionally, more people are willing to commit for 45 minute shift at a certain time than for an "all afternoon" shift. This scheduling procedure has enabled the SKYWARN net to run for 35 continuous hours without burning out net control personnel.


1.7.1 SKYWARN Management

Each forecast office will organize its SKYWARN program to best meet its own needs and to best utilize available NWS and volunteer personnel.

Our program is organized to provide the most service with the least bureaucracy!

SKYWARN Program Manager:

The SKYWARN Program Manager is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Barbara McNaught Watson. The Assistant SKYWARN program manager is Melody Hall, who is the hydrologist. It is important to have at least two NWS personnel actively involved in the SKYWARN program management to provide  "institutional memory" and continuity should a NWS staff member get transferred to another office, which is a common occurrence.

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator:

On the amateur side, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is chosen by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager as the point person with whom the SKYWARN Program Manager coordinates SKYWARN activities. Although the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator position is a volunteer position, it is a critical function of the SKYWARN program. 

We have found that people listen to what the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator says, and treat this information as official information from the NWS. Accordingly, it is critically important for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator to be extremely careful in what he or she says and how he or she acts as poor judgment will reflect poorly on both the amateur radio community and on the NWS. Additionally, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator must be politically savvy and do his or her best to keep the NWS out of amateur radio local disagreements.

One of the most important roles of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is to choose and train his or her possible replacements, almost from the first day he or she is on the job. It takes about a year of actual experience on the job as an assistant coordinator to gain the skills necessary to take on the coordinator's job. 

It is a stated goal to rotate coordinators about every two years. This keeps give the program new management blood and avoids the burn out of the coordinator.

SKYWARN Amateur Radio Training Coordinator:

We added the position of SKYWARN Amateur Radio Training Coordinator. This position is held by someone who is experienced in the operation of the SKYWARN program and can conduct classes in net control procedure and can write and update manuals (like this one) and scripts and acts as an overall trouble shooter.

SKYWARN Assistant Coordinators:

We have three other assistant coordinators who will run the net when the main coordinator is unavailable and will generally act as leaders when things need to be done.

The amateur radio coordinator, the training coordinator and the three assistant coordinators are all on a group paging system. One telephone call from the NWS sets off five pagers. The amateur radio coordinator calls the NWS and the other four check in on the main SKYWARN repeater. Should the amateur radio coordinator not check in to the main repeater, one of the assistant coordinators will call the NWS. This system give organization, efficiency and redundancy to activations and has worked extremely well and professionally.

SKYWARN Scheduling Net Control Stations:

We also have two scheduling net control stations who assign net control slots (usually 45 minutes in length). This is a critical position in long activations.

1.7.1 Role of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, as assisted by the Amateur Radio Training Coordinator, and Assistant Coordinators, organizes the operation of the entire SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net to ensure operation in accordance with the goals of the NWS. Specific duties of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

1.	Ensuring that at least two SKYWARN net liaisons go the forecast office when requested by the NWS. 

	Net liaisons are experienced amateur radio operators who go to the NWS forecast office, pull the important severe weather information from the SKYWARN net and give it to the forecasters and get updated weather information and warnings from the forecasters and place this information on the main net, and on the subnets. The liaison also coordinates directly with the subnets as necessary. Liaisons should be relieved and replaced every 3-4 hours.

2.	Creating and updating a set of recommended protocols and an operating manual for net operation.

3.	Coordinating simple, effective and efficient procedures for passing traffic between local SKYWARN nets, the main SKYWARN net, and the NWS forecasters.

4.	Sharing information, ideas, and protocols with other SKYWARN programs throughout the country to develop the best possible local SKYWARN program.

	Many SKYWARN programs and ARES groups have home pages on the Internet. This has made the exchange of information between groups more efficient. In fact, parts of this manual are on the internet for this very reason!

5.	Coordinating the activities of SKYWARN with ARES, RACES, REACT, and other governmental agencies to best fulfill SKYWARN's goals.
The position description of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, as formalized by the NWS, is Appendix 11.17 to this manual. This volunteer position is appointed by the NWS SKYWARN Program Manager to ensure that the person chosen can work well with the NWS forecasters and management and to ensure some stability in the position. The person chosen for this position must maintain at least a general class amateur radio license, possess superior coordination and communication skills and should be readily available to the NWS.

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is also responsible for making sure that at least one "coordinator" is on duty at all times to receive the NWS page and to bring up the net as requested by the NWS. This will often involve passing the SKYWARN pagers, activation instructions and trained net control volunteer lists from coordinator to coordinator when an out of town trip is expected. It is imperative that the "SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator" position be covered at ALL TIMES!
We have been very successful using a group paging system to activate SKYWARN.  The NWS dials one phone number and enters a code which sets off five pagers held by the Amateur Radio Coordinator and his/her four assistants.

II.  ACTIVATION of SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO NET

2.1 NWS Decision to Activate SKYWARN  

The NWS Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office activates SKYWARN when severe weather is expected to affect its area of warning responsibility. See map at Appendix 11.1 of this manual.  SKYWARN is activated for many forms of anticipated severe weather including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, floods, and severe winter storms.

2.2 Activation Time Frames and Requested Staffing

For short lead time events (i.e. severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods), SKYWARN is activated when the WATCH is issued. The lead time may vary from zero (0) to six (6) hours.  Thunderstorms often change rapidly and are life-threatening situations. Net control volunteers are always requested to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station during thunderstorms and during other similar fast moving and rapidly changing weather situations. The SKYWARN net will usually remain activated for three to twelve hours for short term events.

During long lead time severe weather events, such as hurricanes, stream and river flooding, and winter storms, SKYWARN is activated when the WARNING is issued.  Lead time may be anywhere from zero (0) to twelve (12) hours. Requests to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station will depend on the forecaster's assessment of the nature of the storm  and the storm's potential to cause wide-spread communication outages.  Long-term events may cause SKYWARN to be activated for extended periods of time, possibly measured in days. See Section 3.1.4 Preparations for Extended Activation. Severe winter storms (blizzards!) in March 1993 and January 1996 caused SKYWARN to be activated for more than 30 continuous hours.

2.3 NWS SKYWARN Net Activation Steps BY NWS FORECASTERS  


WHEN TO ACTIVATE:

It is the lead forecaster's responsibility to see that SKYWARN is ACTIVATED whenever a WATCH or WARNING affects the NWS county warning area of responsibility (covering 2 or more counties), OR he/she feels that a critical weather situation is developing that threatens life and/or property and SKYWARN reports are needed (i.e. flood, hurricane, winter storm, etc.)

HOW TO ACTIVATE:

1. NORMAL ACTIVATION

	A. CALL (703) ___-_____
	B. At the beep, punch in 242*____*____*______#
			(NWS telephone number)
	C. SKYWARN Net Manager will call in on phone for briefing.

2. BRING UP NET IMMEDIATELY!!**

	A. CALL (703) ___-______
	B. At the beep, punch in 299*____*_____# 
			(NWS telephone number)
	C. Turn on radio 1 to memory 1 (147.300) and listen to net
	D. SKYWARN Net Manager will call in on telephone for briefing

	**This is used when the NWS has an emergency situation i.e.. a thunderstorm that is suddenly causing damage or is spawning tornadoes before the net has been activated.

3. If the pagers are not working, try calling the SKYWARN Net 	Managers:

	Net Managers: (on the group pager system)
		Home Tel	Work Tel.
	240	Group Wide Page!
	241	Dan 		
	242	Jorge 	
	243	Lisa 		
	244	Tom and Margaret 	
	245	Ross 		
	246	Bernie 	




Once NWS forecasters have made the decision to activate SKYWARN, the following action steps are taken by the forecasters:

	1. 	A message stating that "SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. PRIMARY AMATEUR RADIO NET ON 147.300 MEGA HERTZ" is placed on NOAA Weather Radio.

		NOAA Weather Radio is transmitted from: 

			Manassas, Va. on 162.550 MHz;
			Hagerstown, Md. on 162.475 MHz;
			Baltimore, Md. on 162.400 MHz; and 
			Moorefield, WV. on 162.400 MHz. 

**NOTE: NOAA weather radio is also used to notify the amateur radio community of a change of repeaters.

2. 	This message alerts all SKYWARN spotters to be on the lookout for severe weather and to be ready to pass reports to NWS by phone if the formal net is not in operation. Most of the watches and warnings that cause SKYWARN to be activated are tone-alerted and will activate weather alert radios. SKYWARN participants are encouraged to obtain radios with this feature. The tone alert feature is tested each Wednesday between 11AM and Noon by the NWS. Please make sure that your tone alert is functioning properly!

2.4 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Activation Steps

1.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or his/her designate, receives the page and calls the NWS at the telephone number on the pager.

2.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator is briefed by the forecaster on:
 
a.	Nature of expected severe weather;
 
b.	Expected onset of severe weather
		(immediate or later in day);
 
c.	Expected duration of event; and,

d.	Are there any special communication needs
		(such as HF radio).


3.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator asks the forecaster:

a.	To turn on radio number 1 to memory channel number 1 (147.300) to enable NWS to immediately listen to the net; and,

b.	To ask if the "SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED" message has been placed on NOAA weather radio.

4.	If necessary, the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator arranges to bring up the net IMMEDIATELY from remote sites such as a house or a car.

5.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator assesses the situation and takes the following steps:
  
a.	Contacts amateur radio net liaisons to staff the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station at the NWS;
	**NOTE: Staffing should be in shifts of two (2) or three (3) people with new personnel rotated approximately every three to four (3-4) hours.

b.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator alerts sub-nets by calling designated liaisons.

c.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator puts 147.300 MHz (WA4TSC Bluemont, VA repeater) into "Weather Alert" mode immediately to tell listeners that a net is coming up and severe weather is expected. 
	Code: _____
	**NOTE: This code is CONFIDENTIAL!

6.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator monitors the net and periodically checks with forecasters to track the progress of the storm and makes adjustments in staffing of the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station as required.

	2.4.1 Net Control Operator Personnel List  

The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator will prepare and continually update a list of Net Control operators certified to run the SKYWARN net (both from the NWS and remotely).  The goal is have about 100 Net Control operators on the list, many of whom are likely to be available in the afternoons to cover SKYWARN activations for thunderstorms.  The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator must be able to contact Net Control operators at any time and therefore should have the amateur's home phone, work phone, car phone, FAX, and pager numbers.  

	2.4.2 NWS Communication Emergency Procedure

If the telephones are NOT working and there is an IMMINENT DANGER TO LIFE AND PROPERTY (i.e. tornado, very severe thunderstorm) and there is NO time to find another telephone:
	A. Turn on Amateur Radio to either 146.910- or 147.300+ 
	B. Press the button on the microphone and say, 
	"THIS IS NWS STERLING, VA. WE HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS 
		PROBLEM. 
	C. CAN SOMEONE CONTACT KD4DGQ OR KC4OCG AND HAVE THEM 
		CONTACT US ON THIS FREQUENCY? 
	(or possibly);
	D.  CAN SOMEONE BRING UP THE SKYWARN NET? WE HAVE THE 
		FOLLOWING SITUATION (READ WATCH OR WARNING) 


(Authority: 47 Code of Fed. Reg. (CFR) 97.403):

SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROTECTION OF PROPERTY
No provision of these rules (part 97 amateur radio rules) prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.

This last emergency procedure has become more important with the telephone system getting increasingly overloaded. This procedure was put in place after the NWS communication systems were severed when a contractor cut a fiber optics cable at the forecast office. 

It has only been used once where tornadoes were touching down and causing damage and injury in Southern Maryland and the NWS telephone system was overloaded with spotter and media calls and an eyewitness to a funnel cloud touching down was calling the NWS on amateur radio to report a funnel cloud location and direction of movement.

This procedure is to only be used in emergencies, which may need to be justified, as above, but it is an important backup communication resource should normal NWS communication systems fail or become overloaded.

III.  NET CONTROL OPERATOR PROCEDURES

3.1 Behavioral Rules  

3.1.1 Do Not Bring Children With You

The NWS Forecast Office is NOT the place for children or sightseers during emergencies.  The NWS operations area is not large and is filled with expensive and delicate equipment.  Please DO NOT bring people to the NWS who will distract you or the NWS from doing the best possible job. The NWS would be pleased to give your family a tour of the NWS facility at a quiet weather time and upon prior arrangement.

3.1.2 NWS Forecast Office Operating Conditions

When SKYWARN is activated the NWS is usually operating in a high tension and critical weather mode due to weather conditions. This means:

1.	Any distractions or interruptions of NWS or SKYWARN operations may mean the loss of life or property.

2.	Sensitive information such as severe damage or loss of life may be openly discussed and should not be repeated by SKYWARN volunteers outside the NWS.

3.	TV and/or news crews may be present in the forecast office. Please remember, if you are asked to give a statement, that you represent the entire amateur radio community. Please think before you speak! Words are hard to retract!

3.1.3 No More Than Three (3) Volunteers at the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station at One Time

No more than three (3) SKYWARN volunteers should be in the forecast office at one time. If, for some reason, there are more than (3) volunteers at the NWS, please take shifts. Off-duty Amateurs may monitor other nets from the NWS lunch room or from their cars in the parking lot. Feel free to establish a simplex radio link to the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station.

3.1.4 Preparations for Extended Activation

SKYWARN amateur radio volunteers should be prepared for an extended stay at the NWS if SKYWARN is activated for a hurricane or for severe winter long-duration storms.  The nearest food store is about two (2) miles from the forecast office and may not be open or accessible during extremely severe weather. Volunteers are responsible for bringing food, medications and personal hygiene supplies to maintain themselves for the duration of their stay at the NWS. Please be prepared to be as self sufficient as possible.

	The following "NWS Survival Hints" were written by George KD4DGQ shortly after arrival home from serving as Net Control at the NWS for a thirty two (32) hour duration during the Blizzard of '93 on March 13-14, 1993:

I. 	FOOD (to be placed in one cooler and/or one paper bag)
A. No stove is available. Only take food that can be eaten cold or microwaved.
B. Although the NWS has a refrigerator, do not count on space being available. Bring a cooler with two or three reusable freezer packs to be refrozen as necessary.
C. Bring change for the soda machine.
D. Keep meals simple as time and facilities will be in short supply. Suggest cold sandwiches (i.e. peanut butter and jelly); cold vegetables, fruits, cookies and snacks and your favorite beverage.
E. Hard candies (for sore throats)
F. Canned soup.
G. All cooking and eating implements (cup, plate, bowl, knife, fork, spoon, can opener)

II.	SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS and CLOTHING (one duffel bag)
A. Sleeping bag with mattress pad and a REAL pillow.
B. Blanket (it may be cold!) or Fan (it may be hot!).
C. Enough shirts, socks and underwear for the time you expect to be there, plus a few more things, just in case!
D. Comfortable pants, you will be sitting for a long time. (Loose fitting or sweat pants will work best)
E. Comfortable inside shoes.
F. Alarm Clock to get you up for your next shift.
G. Toilet kit and medications for your stay (plus a little more just in case!) Razor, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, motel size soap, towels and cologne (for covering for a few days without showers)
H. Packages of facial tissue.
I. Aspirin or Substitute. You will need it!

III. RADIO EQUIPMENT and GENERAL GEAR (one backpack)
A. Handietalkie and dry cell battery pack and batteries.
B. Speakermike.
C. Earphone (small and lightweight).
D. Your own SKYWARN book with scripts, frequency charts, repeater lists that you are used to using.
E. Pen and Pencils and legal pad with hard back or clip board.
F. Flashlight with extra batteries.
G. AM/FM Battery Radio with earphone





	3.1.5 How To Volunteer for Net Control Duty

DO NOT GO RUNNING TO THE NWS OR CALL THE NWS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF BAD WEATHER.  To be a well coordinated and effective operation we must follow protocol: 

1.	NWS determines a need for SKYWARN activation and activates the SKYWARN pagers.
 
2.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or designate, calls the NWS to get briefed by the weather forecasters and to determine their staffing needs.

3.	The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or designate, will contact Net Control operators to go to the NWS.  

Trained Net Control operators may also contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator, or the net scheduler, to inform of their availability.  Please feel free to indicate your availability to Net Control at a quiet time in net operations. Please do not be insulted if your services are not needed at that time.  As the weather situation changes, staffing needs may also change. 

	3.1.6 Interaction With The Forecasters

The forecaster who briefs the Net Liaison operator upon arrival at the NWS will most likely be the contact person until the NWS shift changes.  Please follow your instincts on how to pass information to the forecasters.  If the information is CRITICAL and POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING, bring this information to the forecaster IMMEDIATELY.  Otherwise you will need to gauge the situation as to whether the information is important enough to bring to the forecaster's attention immediately or if it can wait five or ten minutes until a forecaster comes to the amateur radio station as part of his or her duties.  It is a delicate balance to make this critical part of Net Control operation successful and it must be handled with discretion, tact and diplomacy by the Net Liaison operator.

3.1.7 Handling Non-Severe Weather Reports

Many of the reports received over the net are for non-severe weather.  Please be courteous to the report giver and note the amateur's location as you may need to contact the amateur(s) if the storm moves in their direction.  As the moment dictates, it may be necessary in periods of extremely severe weather to only take reports from specific areas of interest to the NWS or only reports of severe weather.  If the situation arises, please do not be shy about informing net participants of the exact nature of the information needed and that the only report you will take must meet the severe weather criteria. Please indicate when net is reopened for all traffic.

The scripts have been revised to ask participants to refrain from giving non severe weather traffic on the net.


3.1.8 The 147.300 WA4TSC Repeater and the NVTN

The 147.300+ WA4TSC repeater is located in Bluemont, VA at an elevation of 1800 feet. Wes Boxwell, its licensee, has given a tremendous amount of support to the SKYWARN program and generally permits SKYWARN to use the machine as needed. At night the repeater may have a CTCSS of 146.2. The weather net macro deactivates the CTCSS.

The repeater is backed up by battery in the event of commercial power failure and should run for up to eight (8) hours on battery power.

SKYWARN is not affiliated with any club or organization. The selection of the primary repeater is based on its location and the ability to reliably reach over 75% of the NWS county warning area of responsibility. This coverage of EOC's in the region was tested and verified during a communications exercise called Hurricane Zelda. Wes' support and willingness to let SKYWARN use the repeater makes use of this repeater ideal.

We have also designated backup repeaters in the event that 147.300 fails. We have made arrangements with a repeater in 146.88 Winchester, VA (northern Shenandoah) which covers to the west and the Northern Virginia FM Association 146.91 (northern Virginia) which covers to the east. During one tornado which knocked out 147.300 the net split to the two backup repeaters without problem.

We have heard from around the country that a particular repeater is offered to SKYWARN in an effort give a sponsoring club an official status. Operational capabilities, and not political sponsorship, should be the determining factors in choosing a main repeater and backup repeaters. If SKYWARN is to be successful and open to all participants, it must run with affiliation to any club or organization! This even applies to choosing the repeaters!

Often SKYWARN nets run through the Northern Virginia Traffic Net (NVTN) which takes place on the 147.300+ repeater each evening at 7:30 p.m. A macro will automatically change the repeater out of weather net mode and into traffic net mode at 6:30 p.m. The SKYWARN Net Control station may need to place the repeater back into weather net mode. 

Unless the weather situation is extremely severe and the net busy, please make every attempt to take a break from the SKYWARN Net and permit the NVTN to pass its traffic. The NVTN Net Control Station will often break into the SKYWARN Net and make the request for coordination.  When the SKYWARN Net is busy, the NVTN often just asks for emergency and priority traffic and closes the net if none is to be passed.  If a full scale NVTN Net is to take place, please arrange for the Net Control station to leave breaks throughout the net for severe weather information.  

3.1.9 Emergency Broadcast Radio

The radio on the top of the SKYWARN amateur radio station is part of the Washington area Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). DO NOT TOUCH THIS RADIO FOR ANY REASON!!! EBS manuals are kept in the top drawer of the SKYWARN desk. All OTHER desk drawers contain useful materials to assist with SKYWARN operations and MAY be touched.

The EBS system is being replaced by the Emergency Alerting System (EAS) which is essentially a digital code sent ahead of the NWS alert tone as part of NOAA Weather Radio.

3.2 Operating Rules

3.2.1 Access to NWS

The NWS has a security gate which is usually closed at night and on weekends. If the gate is closed, call the NWS on the telephone at 703-___-______ and identify yourself as a SKYWARN volunteer. You will need to wait until a forecaster comes and opens the gate. Park in a marked parking space near the radar tower. 



3.2.2 Briefing Upon Arrival at the NWS

Upon arrival at the NWS, immediately identify yourself to the lead forecaster as a SKYWARN amateur radio operator (it helps to wear the SKYWARN T-shirt) and ask the lead forecaster for a briefing on the severe weather situation.  

You should get the following information from the forecaster:

1.	Where storm(s) are located and in which direction(s) they are traveling. The forecaster will often draw the watch or warning area on the SKYWARN map to help in communication between the SKYWARN volunteer and the NWS forecaster;

2.	Characteristics and history of the storm(s) (i.e. hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, snow, etc.);
 
3.	What geographic locations are of primary concern to the forecasters; and,
 
4.	The latest severe and/or special weather statement(s) to be read over the net.

3.2.3 Net Liaison Initial Setup

After receiving the briefing, the Net Liaison operator should take the following steps to bring up the net:

1. 	Take a deep breath and calm down!

2. 	Size up the situation and make a plan of attack.

3. 	Get the clipboard (second shelf of station) with sufficient copies of the correct reporting form (summer or winter).  

	The NWS is primarily concerned with storm damage reports that meet the official NWS criteria. This information is initially used in issuing warnings and later in storm damage reports and in locating possible tornado touchdowns and damage.

	Please date the sheet and WRITE LEGIBLY!

4. 	Find pens in top drawer.

5. 	Get the Red Operations Manual (bottom shelf) with the appropriate scripts.
	**NOTE: The scripts are also part of this manual in Chapter IV.

6. 	Set up the radio. Usually you will use memory one (1) of radio one (1) which is set for 147.300+ WA4TSC repeater for the primary net.

7. 	The frequencies for the second net are programmed into radio 2 and the memory locations are identified on the SKYWARN map under the plastic desk cover at the SKYWARN amateur radio station.

8.	Take another deep breath, make sure the repeater is in net mode. DTMF Code ____. 

	**NOTE: This code should be considered CONFIDENTIAL.

	Check in with remote net control. Read any watches and warnings. Pass on briefings from the forecasters to the net. Obtain reports of severe weather and pass them to the forecasters. Read new watches and warnings on the net.



3.2.4 Remote Net Control Volunteers

Very often net control will be run on a rotating basis by volunteers located throughout the SKYWARN area of responsibility physically away from the NWS. 

SKYWARN Net Control stations will actually run the net from their homes and offices, from scripts, on a 45 minute rotating basis. They will write down all severe weather information and will make sure that the Net Liaison station at the NWS has received the information. Many times experienced remote net control stations will let the net liaison station speak directly to the observer if there is a critical or complex report.

SKYWARN Net Control stations will also keep a list of all current watches and warnings and will brief the next net control station at the end of each shift.


3.3 Closing the SKYWARN Net

When the severe weather situation calms down, a forecaster will indicate to the Net Liaison volunteer that it is time to secure the net, or parts of the net.  At that time the Net Liaison volunteer should perform the following net shutdown steps:


1.	Inform the Net Control station of the net, or subnets to be deactivated. 

2. 	The Net Control volunteer will make a final call for severe weather reports. At the end of snow storms, the Net Control station should pole various areas within the warning area for a final snow fall report. 

	Upon hearing no further reports of severe weather, the Net Control volunteer should read script 14.12 and thank the repeater licensee and amateur radio community.
 
3.	The Net Control volunteer should place the repeater back into normal operation through DTMF _____. 
	**NOTE: This code should be considered CONFIDENTIAL.

4.	The Net Control station should indicate to anyone listening on the net that any further reports of severe weather must be telephoned into the NWS. See Script 14.12.
  
5.	Every attempt should be made to contact and thank the subnets for their participation and to inform them of the closing of the primary SKYWARN Net. This is usually done by the Net Liaison station from the NWS. Should contact NOT be made, the backup signal of the primary net's closure is the return of 147.300 to normal mode (single courtesy beep instead of "WX" Morse code).

6. 	The station MUST be left in a clean condition READY for the next activation. In other words, please make sure the red book is on the shelf, pens are in the drawer, many copies of the severe weather report forms are on the clip board and radio 1 is set to 147.300!

7. 	Please staple all reports and statements together and hand them to the lead forecaster!

The net control volunteer may need to ask the forecasters to make arrangements to open the security gate if it is after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends.  This should be done before driving out to the gate.


3.4 SKYWARN SubNet Procedures

The 147.300 repeater DOES NOT cover the entire Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office's area of warning responsibility. Several SKYWARN sub nets have formed in areas beyond the primary coverage of the 147.300 repeater. A SKYWARN sub net is an official local area net whose goal is to obtain and consolidate reports of severe weather from a specific area and, using primary SKYWARN Net procedures, to relay these severe weather reports to the primary SKYWARN Net via an amateur radio station that can access both the 147.300 repeater AND the local repeater SIMULTANEOUSLY.

The following is a brief list of the steps of how a SKYWARN Sub Net should be organized:
 
1.	The NWS Amateur Radio Coordinator makes a determination that an area does not have an effective hand held coverage into the 147.300 repeater.  It has been found that many amateurs (correctly) disconnect outside antennas during lightning storms and revert to hand-held usage.
  
2.	The Amateur Radio Coordinator makes contact with local groups (or visa versa) in the area of interest and makes sure that the proposed subnet fits well into the SKYWARN system. It is preferable that all nets use the same protocols for consistency. 

Despite the existence of a SKYWARN Sub Net, any amateur radio operator who can access the 147.300 repeater should do so.  The Sub Net's primary responsibility is to relay traffic for those stations who cannot access the 147.300 repeater directly.

The Net Control station, or the liaison station, of each SKYWARN Sub Net will notify the NWS Net Liaison station of the activation of the SKYWARN Sub Net as well as the Net Control operator's or liaison station's call sign and telephone number.  This will permit the NWS Net Control or Net Liaison operator to contact the SKYWARN Sub Net if requested to do so by the NWS.  The SKYWARN Sub Net agrees not to secure operations until given permission to do so by the NWS forecasters, indicating that the severe storm threat in that area has passed. The SKYWARN sub nets may place the sub net in standby mode is severe weather is not occurring.

To be effective, the participants, and especially the Net Control station in a SKYWARN Sub Net, should have completed SKYWARN spotter and net control training.

Each official SKYWARN sub net will be given a designator, such as Hagerstown SKYWARN sub net. At the present time we have subnets in Northern Shenandoah, Southern Shenandoah, Charlottesville, Southern Maryland, Baltimore, Caroll County, MD, Hagerstown, MD and West Virginia. We will continue to make use of wide area coverage voice repeaters to coordinate the main SKYWARN net with the outlying subnets.

A roving SKYWARN Net Control operator from the main will, may check in and/or monitor the frequency of the various sub nets in the areas of severe weather activity to help in coordination.

3.5 Remote Net Control

Remote Net Control volunteers are trained and experienced in SKYWARN Net Control procedures and have a complete and up to date copy of this manual at their location. The remote Net Control volunteer coordinates with the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator and runs the net from his or her home or other location. The remote net control volunteer make notes of all reports of severe weather on the standard reporting forms and passes the severe weather information to the Net Liason station at the NWS.

Remote Net Control stations pass the "net" from one to another as needed, usually on a 45 minute basis per the prearranged schedule. It is important that all severe weather reports be promptly mailed to the NWS for their records.

If a Remote Net Control station determines that a severe weather report, such as a funnel cloud, needs to be made known to the forecasters IMMEDIATELY, and the Amateur Radio volunteer has not arrived at the NWS, please make sure that the NWS is informed of this priority traffic by telephone (telephone numbers (703) 260-0206 or 1-(800) 253-7091). 

Remote Net Control operators must use a different introduction to the scripts that indicates that: (1) the remote Net Control station is Not at the NWS, and (2) the remote Net Control station is in contact with the NWS. 

During long term duration storms (heavy rain/flooding, snow storms etc.) it is recommended to hold hourly "check-in" nets (usually on the hour) with the SKYWARN Net Control station monitoring the frequency when the net is not in active session. This is an effective way to pick up reports from subnets (which were not relayed during the last formal main net session) and priority or emergency reports that cannot wait until the next formal net session.

3.6 Local Weather Nets

The weather is very difficult to predict! Local severe weather, such as flooding or severe thunderstorms, may develop suddenly without the NWS issuing a watch or warning, or be too localized for the NWS to activate the main SKYWARN net.  

The following is the recommended procedure for implementing local area weather nets.

The activation of a local area weather net should be coordinated on the local level with the repeater licensee, preferably in advance of the weather emergency.  Please do not have multiple local nets or multiple amateurs calling the NWS.  To be successful and to serve the NWS in the best possible manner, the program needs to be self policing.  Therefore, the structure should be similar to a main SKYWARN net activation where there is one net control station and one assistant to make sure that severe weather reports are relayed to the forecasters.

Upon receiving reports of a serious local weather situation developing, the Net Control station should contact the NWS lead forecaster by telephone to: 

1.	Relay the weather information;
 
2.	Confirm that the main NWS SKYWARN net is not activated (AFTER having listened to 147.300 and NOT hearing the repeater in SKYWARN net mode);

3.	Receive a request from the lead forecaster that a localized area of severe weather is in your location and that reports are needed. Please give the lead forecaster your name, call sign, and telephone number and indicate that you are the contact person for running a local weather net on a particular frequency in a particular area. The forecasters may wish to listen to the net "live."

Please designate the area as a "local area weather net" and not as a SKYWARN Net.  This notifies participants that any critical weather information needs to be relayed to the NWS by telephone and not by amateur radio as, most likely, there is no one listening to the Amateur Radio Station at the NWS.

If the main NWS SKYWARN net is activated after a local area weather net is in progress, the local area net should become a SKYWARN Sub Net with a designated liaison station.

To be effective, the participants in the local area weather net should have completed SKYWARN Basic Spotter Training.


3.7 Interfacing with Other Groups

The NWS is often asked to communicate with other groups in addition to amateur radio operators.  Every attempt should be made to have the broadest possible inclusion into the SKYWARN Net. At the present time, there are no facilities to monitor citizens band frequencies at the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station and no such facilities are planned.  Accordingly, if groups such as REACT would like to participate in SKYWARN nets, it is imperative that the group coordinate with one of their members who is also an amateur radio operator who can relay the reports to the primary SKYWARN net.

3.8 SWITCHING NET TO ALTERNATE REPEATERS

From time to time it may be necessary to switch the net to alternate frequencies for technical or other reasons. The procedures is as follows;
	1. Verify the net has permission to use the alternate repeater. Permission may be received over the radio if necessary.
	2. Make an announcement on NOAA Weather radio of the change in frequencies. (Manassas, Hagerstown, Elkins and Baltimore).
	3. Assign a station to remain on the initial frequency (simplex if necessary) to tell stations checking in of the change in frequency.
	4. Thank all repeater groups and licensees for the use of the repeater.

IV.  SKYWARN NET CONTROL SCRIPTS


4.1 SKYWARN Script #1 - SUMMER

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING: 

1.	TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS

2.	HAIL (DIME SIZE OR LARGER)

3.	WIND 50 MPH OR GREATER

4.	FLOODING

5.	RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH OR MORE PER HOUR

6.	DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING

7.	DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES 

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME.  THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER.


4.2 SKYWARN Script #2 - SUMMER:

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER)
READ WITH EVERY 30 minutes 


THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

  ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WA4TSC REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, THE REPEATER MAY BE USED BY AMATEURS.  IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN. 

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. OVER.

4.3 SKYWARN Script #3 - SUMMER

STANDBY NET
(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

SKYWARN IS IN A STAND-BY MODE DUE TO A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER. REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE TAKEN ON THE HOUR AND ON THE HALF HOUR. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MAY FULLY ACTIVATE SKYWARN IF SEVERE WEATHER OCCURS.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING: 

1.	TORNADOES, FUNNEL CLOUDS OR ROTATING WALL CLOUDS

2.	HAIL (DIME SIZE OR LARGER)

3.	WIND 50 MPH OR GREATER

4.	FLOODING

5.	RAIN ACCUMULATION IN EXCESS OF 1 INCH OR MORE PER HOUR

6.	DAMAGE BY WIND OR LIGHTNING

7.	DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES 

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME.  THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER.

(BREAK)

HEARING NO FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AT THIS TIME, SKYWARN WILL RESUME TAKING REPORTS AT _________ (TIME). THIS IS __________, CLEAR.


4.4 SKYWARN Script #1 -WINTER: 

(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING: 

	1.	SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES

	2.	SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINES

	3.	SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN

	4.	WIND IN EXCESS OF 30 MILES PER HOUR

	5.	DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

	6.	IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME.  THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER.


4.5 SKYWARN Script #2 -WINTER

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER)
READ WITH EVERY 30 MINUTES 


THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

  ON BEHALF OF THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WA4TSC REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, THE REPEATER MAY BE USED BY AMATEURS.  IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN. 

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. OVER.

4.6 SKYWARN Script #3 -WINTER

STANDBY NET
(GENERAL REQUEST FOR REPORTS)
READ EVERY 30 MINUTES

THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

SKYWARN IS IN A STAND-BY MODE DUE TO A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER. REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE TAKEN ON THE HOUR AND ON THE HALF HOUR. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MAY FULLY ACTIVATE SKYWARN IF SEVERE WEATHER OCCURS.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING: 

	1.	SNOWFALL IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES

	2.	SEVERE ICING ON TREES, STREETS, OR POWER LINES

	3.	SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN

	4.	WIND IN EXCESS OF 30 MILES PER HOUR

	5.	DOWNED TREES OR POWER LINES

	6.	IMPASSABLE OR CLOSED ROADS

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING SKYWARN IF THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRING IN YOUR AREA. ANY STATION EXPERIENCING SEVERE WEATHER CALL SKYWARN NET CONTROL AT THIS TIME.  THIS IS ___ (call sign). OVER.

HEARING NO FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS AT THIS TIME, SKYWARN WILL RESUME TAKING REPORTS AT _________ (TIME). THIS IS __________, CLEAR.




4.7 SKYWARN Net Closing Script:

(THANKS FOR USE OF REPEATER AND AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY)
READ ON CLOSING THE NET 


THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN IN CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN STERLING, VIRGINIA, NEAR DULLES AIRPORT.

ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE SKYWARN PROGRAM, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE WA4TSC REPEATER GROUP FOR USE OF THEIR SYSTEM AND THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY FOR GIVING SKYWARN TRAFFIC PRIORITY AND FOR PARTICIPATING IN SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER NETS.

WHEN SKYWARN HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT IS NOT TAKING TRAFFIC, THE REPEATER MAY BE USED BY AMATEURS.  IT IS REQUESTED THAT TRANSMISSIONS BE KEPT SHORT AND BREAKS GIVEN TO PERMIT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO REACH SKYWARN. 

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA TRAFFIC NET, WHICH NORMALLY MEETS ON THIS REPEATER EACH EVENING AT 7:30 PM, FOR CLOSELY COORDINATING ITS ACTIVITIES WITH THE SKYWARN NET.

PLEASE PASS ALL FURTHER SEVERE WEATHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BY TELEPHONE. THE SKYWARN SEVERE WEATHER HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: (703) 260-0206 OR 1- (800) 253-7091. REPEATING THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS: (703) 260-0206 OR 1- (800) 253-7091. THESE HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE ONLY TO BE USED TO REPORT THE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WEATHER.

THIS IS ___ (call sign) NET CONTROL FOR SKYWARN. THE SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO SEVERE WEATHER NET IS NOW SECURED AT ______. THE REPEATER IS RETURNED TO NORMAL SERVICE.

DTMF CODE ____

NOTE: Please mail all reports of severe weather to the NWS. 
The address is:	Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office
				NOAA/National Weather Service
				44087 Weather Service Road
				Sterling, VA   20166. 

V. SKYWARN PACKET OPERATIONS

Packet Amateur Radio is an exciting method of digital communication. It involves connecting a computer to a terminal node connector (TNC) which in turn is connected to the amateur radio transceiver. We want to integrate this "new" technology into the SKYWARN system to the greatest possible extent.  

The primary uses of the packet at this time are to:   

1.	Relay detailed (primarily winter) storm and damage reports from local subnets and spotter to the NWS; and,
2. 	Send watches and warnings to Local and State Emergency Services during emergency situations and communications outages.  

The primary packet frequency is 145.730 (simplex).  There are a number of packet nodes on this frequency including: 

	 	FOAKS in Fairfax, VA 	
		EZF in Fredericksburg, VA 	
		CARA3 in Madison, VA 	
		WINC in Winchester, VA 		
		DCSKY in Silver Hill, MD  

	The first four nodes are part of the #VDEN#  network which covers most of Northern Virginia. Packet users to the North and East of  Washington DC area should use DCSKY. The packet station at the NWS is KC4OCG-1 (direct connect) and KC4OCG (mailbox). Direct connects are preferred and are printed out in hard copy upon receipt.  

	Plans are beginning to form to create a regionwide high speed packet backbone on a second frequency. Until then, the use of SKYWARN packet is to simply relay one message at a time from station to station and to disconnect. Please disconnect as soon as possible to avoid clogging the frequency. Please do not read messages previously sent to the NWS. 

	A packet system in West Virginia has been set up linking many counties and EOC's. The system is called DAREN and a system map is in Appendix 11.9 to this manual.

VI. HURRICANE WATCH and/or WARNING


SKYWARN will be activated when a hurricane is anticipated to strike the National Capital Area. The SKYWARN amateur radio net may be activated any time a hurricane threatens the East Coast (particularly the mid-Atlantic Region) or South Florida. In an event such as Hurricane Andrew, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) in Camp Springs, MD acts as the back-up hurricane center to the NWS's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Coral Gables, FL. 

SKYWARN may be asked to help support NMC and NWS with amateur radio communications. SKYWARN amateur radio support may also be requested to assist with backup communications to other NWS offices threatened by hurricanes, such as Norfolk (Wakefield), VA, and to assist in gathering severe weather and damage reports from areas impacted by the storm where normal communications are inoperative.

In such situations, HF will most likely be required. It may be necessary to plan staffing for many 24-hour periods.  If there is a possibility of a hurricane passing within 100 miles of Sterling, VA, net control volunteers need to arrive at NWS prepared for a long stay in the event that roads are closed. See 3.1.4 Preparations for Extended Activation. Volunteers should also be certain that their family is prepared before departing to the NWS. See Family Disaster Preparedness Materials in Appendix 11.13 to this manual.

It is important to coordinate with local ARES and RACES groups.

HURRICANE WATCH NET (HWN)

Contact should be made with the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) to coordinate efforts.  They may need to use the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station to relay ground truth (actual observations) reports into the NWS system.  It is expected that packet will be used for these purposes. 

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) operates in cooperation with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in much the same manner that SKYWARN operates with the Washington, DC Weather Service Forecast Office (WSFO).

The purpose of the HWN is to:

	1. Disseminate hurricane advisory information to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) and other interests for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific as promulgated by the NHC in Coral Gables, Florida.

	2. Obtain weather information for the NWS from reporting stations who are not part of the routine network of the World Meteorological Organization and forward the information to the NHC.

	3. Function as a backup communications link for the NHC, EOC's and NWS and other vital interests involved in the protection of life and property before, during and after hurricane events.

	4. Relay initial hurricane damage assessments to the NHC.

HWN operations normally commence anytime a hurricane is within 350 nautical miles of an inhabited land mass and will continue in operation until the storm is no longer a threat. The net DOES NOT handle health and welfare type communication.

Operation will normally take place on 14.325 MHz +/-, however the operation may shift frequency at the request of stations in the hurricane affected area or to take advantage of shifting propagation conditions.

Priority is given to those stations representing the NWS and emergency management organizations. The net control volunteer of the SKYWARN station should identify that they are located at the WSFO, Washington when checking into the HWN.

The Dade County, Florida Amateur Radio Public Service Corps operates station W4EHW located in the forecast office of the NHC. Most traffic is passed to this station via the HWN or through a landline computer link to Southern Region, NWS. If these links are not available, SKYWARN may be asked to pass the information via NWS facilities located in the WSFO.

Important telephone contact numbers and other excellent hurricane information from the HWN are in Appendix 11.4 of this manual.


VII. SKYWARN HF OPERATIONS


Although HF has been set up at NWS for special occasions, at the moment it is not there permanently.  Therefore, an antenna needs to be set up and connected to the coax in the connector box at the base of the antenna tower. This replaces the antenna for radio #1 and radio # 1 is out of service. An HF radio and tuner needs to be connected to the antenna connection for radio #1.  A 20 amp power supply is available for use for HF operations at the NWS.  Plans are underway to have a dedicated coax for HF.

Information on Virginia HF Emergency Net Operations are in Appendix 11.6 of this manual.  75 meters is often used.  It may be important to use HF should a storm damage large numbers of repeaters in the area.

There are plans for permanent HF at the NWS in the future. Even though this may become a reality, it is also possible that the station may be damaged by the storm and a secondary radio and antenna may need to be installed after the storm passes.

Alternatively, please try to coordinate via VHF or UHF with a local amateur operator with a home HF station or with W4PAY. See section 1.5 SKYWARN's Relationship to ARRL/ARES/RACES/REACT.



VIII. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC RELATIONS and AUTOCALL


An important facet of SKYWARN operations is public relations.  SKYWARN provides ample opportunities to demonstrate the unique capabilities of amateur radio as well as the volunteer and public spirit of amateur radio operators.  If you speak with the press, please be extremely careful what you say because you represent the entire amateur community and the SKYWARN program.  If you have any questions, please contact a forecaster BEFORE speaking with the press. A number of articles that have been written about the SKYWARN program are included in Appendix 11.7 of this manual.

SKYWARN is a public service activity and is not a club. Because SKYWARN does not have a checking account or dues, we make use of articles placed in The Foundation for Amateur Radio's AUTOCALL magazine in place of a monthly newsletter to keep SKYWARN volunteers informed of current events in the program.  Please monitor AUTOCALL and contact the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator if you have any questions.  We thank The Foundation and AUTOCALL for their unyielding support and assistance to the SKYWARN program.

There are constant challenges to the radio frequencies set aside for amateur radio use.  SKYWARN provides an identifiable and extremely visible opportunity for putting amateur radio in its best light.  Severe weather is always of interest to the media. Our SKYWARN amateur radio Station has already been featured nationally on The Weather Channel and CBS' How'd Do That (segment on the Blizzard of '93 May, 1993) and in the December 1992 edition of the American Radio Relay League's QST magazine in an article on the amateur radio response to Hurricane Andrew. Locally, SKYWARN has been featured on News Channel 8 and in numerous stories in many newspapers. As a direct result of SKYWARN activities, generally, and SKYWARN participation in training exercise I.E. Zelda and regionwide communication drills in particular, and demonstrated professionalism and results as noted in NWS weather statements and reports on severe weather events, a number of Emergency Operations Centers have recognized the benefits of having amateur radio capabilities at their disposal. Thus, the SKYWARN program not only benefits the NWS and the public, but also helps to preserve amateur radio as a national resource.

The NWS does its best to promote the capabilities of the SKYWARN amateur radio net. Our SKYWARN program is set up as a model to other NWS offices around the country and has been written up in regional NWS staff notes as well as national newsletters such as AWARE. This newsletter also gets distributed to disaster preparedness groups and agencies outside of the NWS. NWS works closely with FEMA, the American Red Cross, the FCC in Emergency Broadcast Communications and with numerous state and local emergency management agencies. Therefore, SKYWARN has been, and will continue to be, an important vehicle to showcase amateur radio to the agencies involved in the allocation of privileges and frequencies.

SKYWARN has developed a large following of scanner enthusiasts, emergency managers and amateur radio operators.  Let us continue to put amateur radio's "best foot forward."


IX.	DESCRIPTION of the SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO STATION


The SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station consists of four radios.  There are two Yaesu FT-2400 two-meter radios.  The first FT-2400 is used for the primary SKYWARN net which is usually held on 147.300+ (WA4TSC Bluemont, VA) repeater.  The alternate SKYWARN repeaters are 146.910- (W4XG Tysons Corner, VA) and 146.790- (W4LBL in Fairfax, VA).

The second FT-2400 is used to chase the storm.  The two meter frequencies on the NWS/SKYWARN Radio Resource Map are programmed into the memories of radio # 2 as stated below.  This radio is used to seek reports from areas in which the forecasters have expressed an interest because of indications of severe weather.   The frequencies are as follows:

		145.13-				Harrisonburg, Virginia
		145.21-				Linden, VA
		145.27-				Stafford, Virginia
		145.35- 				Waldorf, Maryland
		146.625-				New Market, Virginia
		146.745-				Berkeley Springs, W. Virginia
		146.76-				Jessup, Maryland
		146.79-				Fairfax, Virginia
		146.82-				Winchester, Virginia
		146.91-				Tysons Corner, Virginia
		147.015+				Fredericksburg, Virginia
		147.09+				Hagerstown, Maryland
		*147.105+				Davidsonville, Maryland
		147.12+				Culpepper, Virginia
		147.135+				Columbia, Maryland
		147.165+				Warrenton, Virginia
		147.18+				Silver Spring, Maryland
		147.300+				Bluemont, Virginia
		147.060+				Frederick, MD
							
*During the summer months the Anne Arundel club runs a Chesapeake Bay Weather Net at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.


The FT-2400 radios are normally in the "memory" mode. If they are not, (if you turn the large knob and the frequency is moving sequentially) press the "D/MR" (Dial/Memory) button one time to toggle back to memory mode. If you need to access a frequency not in the memory, toggle to dial mode. Controls for CTCSS and repeater offset etc. are behind a black plastic pull down cover located on the front, lower right corner of the radio.

The third radio is a Yaesu FT-712. This radio is on the 440Mhz band. The primary repeater is the 444.40+ (CTCSS 103.5) HamTalk network which covers most of West Virginia and a good portion of central Virginia.  A map of the HamTalk Network is in Appendix 11.8 to this manual. The network is a chain of six repeaters that are linked full time. Accessing any one of the repeaters puts you into the entire system.  

Another repeater often used is 444.75+, the Tysons Corner, Virginia, KB4NRU repeater which covers a significant portion of Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

440 will likely be used more during a disaster as 2-meters is likely to be extremely busy.

The fourth radio is a Yaesu FT-5200 (dual band 2 meter and 440) which is primarily dedicated to 2 meter and 440 packet.  If needed, this radio may be used for voice.  The microphone is in the second drawer of the SKYWARN amateur radio desk.  The primary packet frequency for SKYWARN is 145.73 (simplex) which is memory 1 of this radio.  

The antenna system consists of three Diamond dual band antennas located on the NWS tower behind the forecast office.  Each antenna is a combination 2 meter and 440 antenna.  The lowest of the antennas goes through a junction box at the base of the tower with a PL259 connector.  This connection can be used to replace the dual band antenna with either an HF antenna or another temporary antenna should the need arise.

HF radio operations may take place from the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Station by disconnecting the antenna on radio #1 and installing an HF antenna in its place. See Section VII, SKYWARN HF Operations.

Earphones for each radio are located in the second drawer of the SKYWARN amateur radio desk for use during very active and multiple nets.

X.	NWS BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON FORECAST OFFICE
INFORMATION and DIRECTIONS

The NWS Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office is located on the northwest side of Dulles Airport in Sterling, VA.

From Dulles Toll Road and Route 28:  Traveling west on the Dulles Toll Road, get off at the Route 28 exit.  After the toll booth, make a right (north) on Route 28.  Make a left at the second traffic light onto Route 606, westbound.  Travel approximately 3.5 miles on Route 606.  A landmark on the right is a series of blue-topped brick pillars.  When you reach the blue topped brick pillars, slow down and make a left at the white sign through the government chain link fence.  The name is, appropriately, Thunder Road (for Bruce Springsteen fans)!   At the end of Thunder Road, make a right onto Weather Service Road and park in the parking lot immediately to the left under the radar tower.  

Route 606 is also accessible from Route 50.

The address is:	Baltimore-Washington Forecast Office
				NOAA/National Weather Service
				44087 Weather Service Road
				Sterling, VA   20166. 

Telephone numbers:

	To report severe weather:	metro area 		(703)-260-0206 
						long distance 		(800)-253-7091
	Administrative questions and training:   	(703)-260-0107
		(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays)

Please use the severe weather hotline numbers ONLY for making reports of severe weather.  Please do not ask questions at the end of your report and please keep your reports brief.  Someone may be trying to reach the NWS with a critical report that may save a life, even if it's sunny where you are.  When calling the administrative number please try to do so during good weather as the staff is extremely busy during severe weather. If you must get through to the forecast office during non-administrative hours to discuss a critical element of SKYWARN, you can call 703-260-0209.

NWS SKYWARN Program contacts:
	
	SKYWARN Program Manager 	- Barbara McNaught
	SKYWARN Assistant       	- Melody Hall

You need not talk to Melody or Barbara to register for a class; however, to arrange a SKYWARN training class for your club or organization, you must talk to one of these two individuals. 



XI. Weather on the Internet

	There is a huge amount of information about the Weather and the National Weather Service on the Internet. Many forecast offices and NWS Headquarters have their own home pages.

	The following is a partial list of home pages which SKYWARN participants should find useful. Please note that this is just a partial list and the actual addresses and availability will inevitably change over time. This is just a starting point!

WEATHERNET	http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/wxnet
WXP Purdue	http://thunder.atms.purdue.edu/
Bermuda Weather Service	http://www.bbsr.edu/weather.html
Accu-Weather	http://accuwx.com/
The Weather Channel	http://www.infi.net/weather
Automated Weather Source	http://aws.com/fame/
Penn State Univ. Met. Dept.	http://www.ems.psu.edu/wx/index.html
Center for Ocean/Land Stud	http://grads.iges.org/pix/head.html
CIMSS	http://cloud.ssec.wisc.edu/
EarthWatch	http://www.earthwatch.com/
Canadian Maritime NWS	http://www.ns.doe.ca/
Canadian Yukon NWS	http://yvrwwwl.pwc.bc.doe.ca/
Canadian (Toronto) NWS	http://cmits02.dow.on.doe.ca/
FSU Meteorology Dept.	http://thunder.met.fsu.edu/
Navy-Fleet Weather Pred	http://metoc.fnoc.navy.mil/fnmoc.html
Earthscan	http://antares.cei.lsu.edu/
Lyndon State Met Dept	http://appollo.lsc.vsc.edu/weather/weather.html
El Nino	
	http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/toga-tao/el-nono/home.html
NCSU Met Dept	http://meanwx1/nrrc.ncsu.edu/
**Ohio State Met Dept	http://aspl.sbs.ohio-state.edu/
   **Great for NWS Warnings!
Univ of Hawaii Met Dept	http://lumhai.soest.hawaii.edu/
Univ of Ill Met Dept	http://www.atmos.uiuc.edu/wxworld.html/top.html
Climate Prediction Ctr	http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/
Tropical Pred Center	http://nhc-hp6.nhc.noaa.gov/index.html
Nat Svr Forecast Ctr	http://www.awc-kc.noaa.gov/
Nat Svr Storms Lab	http://www.nssl.uoknor.edu/
Nat Weather Service	http://www.nws.noaa.gov
GOES Pathfinder	gopher://diamond.asec.wisc.edu:70/11/
Weather Hot List	http://sin.fi.edu/tfi/hotlists/weather.html
Weather Sources	
	http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/DataSources/Metindex.html
GOES Imagery	
	http://climate.gsfc.nasa.gov/-chesters/goesproject.html


XII.APPENDIX
11.1  NWS County Warning Area of Responsibility for Severe Weather
		and Goals for the SKYWARN Amateur Radio Net
11.2  MOU ARRL and NWS
11.3  MOU Virginia ARES and RACES
11.4  Information (Used with permission of Hurricane Watch Net)
		11.4.1 	Time Zone Conversions
		11.4.2 	Net Prowords
		11.4.3 	Q Signals
		11.4.4 	Hurricane Tracking Chart
		11.4.5 	Conversion Formulas (knots/mph etc.)
		11.4.6 	Dvorak Pressure/Wind Curve
		11.4.7 	Distance Conversion Chart
		11.4.8 	Safer-Simpson Scale 
		11.4.9 	Safer-Simpson (from NWS Hurricanes!)
		11.4.10	Hurricane Safety Advice (from NWS Hurricanes!)
11.5  VA Emergency Net Information
11.6 Amateur Frequency HF/VHF/UHF Allocation Chart, Band Plan and 
	  Country Prefix codes (Used with permission of 
	  Icom America, Inc.)
11.7  Articles Written About SKYWARN
11.8  HamTalk Network Map
11.9  DAREN (WV Packet) 
11.10 TMARC Repeater and BBS Maps and Lists
11.11 ARRL NTS Formal Traffic Forms and Instructions
11.12 ARRL Emergency Nets (Used with permission of the ARRL)
11.13 Family Disaster Plan
11.14 Fire, Police, NWS and Emergency Telephone Numbers
11.15 Virginia SKYWARN District Map
11.16 SKYWARN Advisory Committee Description
11.17 SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator Position Description
11.18 Winter Storm Report Form
11.19 Summer Storm Report Form


-iv-
printed 4/13/00

