Where severe storms are possible, storm spotting groups such as SKYWARN in the United States coordinate amateur radio operators to keep track of severe thunderstorms and tornados. Reports from spotters  are given to the National Weather Service (NWS) so that they have the information to warn the general public. Spotters also give reports during winter storms, floods, hurricanes and wildfires.

SKYWARN has long been associated with amateur radio. Many NWS offices maintain an amateur radio station that is manned by amateur radio operators during times of severe weather. This allows licensed amateur radio spotters to transmit their severe weather reports directly to the NWS and receive up-to-date severe weather updates even if regular communications are disrupted or overloaded by the weather emergency.

In our area SKYWARN is coordinated through the National Capital SKYWARN group (NCSG).  They offer several support document on their WebPages.   Our net controls will be trained by their trainer and will report either thorough the net on the 147.300 (+) repeater (if needed a PL of 146.2 is also used ) or through the NWS Sterling 800 telephone number.

The NCSG has approved the 147.060(+ (PL 123) as a subnet.  Since some of our members do not have PL capabilities and since neither of these repeaters cover our region fully it was felt that it would be to Sterling's advantage if we ran a net.

Once we have trained Net Control operators we will provide them the codes and scripts that our net will use.  Our scripts follow the scripts of the NCSG, but will have a slight difference.

We will always encourage all of our operators to monitor the local All Hazzard Station 162.475.

What is the data that is sought. From the Basic Spotters Guide, page 1 the answer is:

• Urgent Priority
  • Tornado Funnel cloud
  • Rotating wall cloud
  • Flash flooding
• High Priority
  • Hail �-inch diameter or larger
  • Wind speed greater than 58 mph
  • Persistent non-rotating wall cloud
  • Rainfall 1 inch or more per hour

• Lower Priority
  • Hail � inch diameter or larger
  • Wind speed greater than 40 mph
  • Cloud features suggesting storm organization
  • Other locally-defined criteria.

Locally we are told by Sterling that their guidelines are: The National Weather Service is looking for reports of the following:

• The local criteria
  • Tornadoes, funnel clouds, or rotating wall clouds
  • Hail (please give the size as compared to US currency)
  • Wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour
  • Flooding of streams, creeks, or rivers
  • Roads, or streets made impassable due to water
  • An inch or more of rain accumulation (measured in rain gauge)
  • Any damage by wind or lightning
  • Downed trees, large branches, or power lines”

When making your report, please follow “Joe Friday's” request, “Just the facts.” “Just the facts.” Please keep the net business like, keep your transmissions short. When calling SKYWARN Net Control.. .please give your Spotter ID if you have one, and indicate the exact location where severe weather is occurring. This includes city AND state, nearest town, road, or intersection. Please do not use landmarks. Major roadways are OK.

The NWS at Sterling is waiting for the report that only you can give.  Get  involved!