Skywarn

NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is reporting on severe local thunderstorms. In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters form the nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts have given your family and neighbors the precious gift of time–minutes that can help save lives.

Who is eligible and how do I get started?

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches and nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are encouraged to become a spotter. Ready to learn more? Find a class in your area. Training is free and typically lasts about 2 hours. You’ll learn:

Basics of thunderstorm development
Fundamentals of storm structure
Identifying potential severe weather features
Information to report
How to report information
Basic severe weather safety

Need help with your Spotter Number or other local information such as a missing class schedule? If you need help finding your spotter number or a class schedule, contact your local Warning Coordination Meteorologist. He or she can help you get, find or replace your spotter information and let you know about upcoming classes. Classes typically are held in an office’s relatively slow season. Classes are NOT typically offered all year. Schedules vary from office to office.

Looking for our online program? You also can also take our free online spotter program. Some offices also ask that you take a local class to learn about weather unique to your area.

SKYWARN name and logo are trademarked: SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Please read the rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo.

Procedure for Calling Into a SKYWARN Net

When the Net Control Station (NCS) calls on stations to check in, please follow the following guidelines:

Identify yourself with your callsign, name and current location.
Allow the NCS to greet all the stations.
The NCS will then go down the list, taking the information from each station.
We want your observations! Please base your reports on the NWS criteria.
WHAT was observed
WHEN it was observed
WHERE it was observed
Include direction & distance from a known location
When calling from your town. Please specify if in MA or CT.
Don’t relay reports that you hear on repeaters in other coverage areas, unless the NCS has asked you to do so.
Don’t relay information from the WEATHER CHANNEL.
If you relay information you hear on a scanner, let the NCS know this is second hand information from a Public Service agency.
After the storm has passed your location. DO NOT tell NCS the storm has passed! Please stay off the air so that reports east of you can be taken. We don’t need a summary of what has already happened.