Editing Skywarn

{{Short description|Program of the National Weather Service in the US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{infobox Organization
|name          = Skywarn
|image         = skywarn.svg
|image_border  =
|size          = 200px
|caption       =
|map           =
|msize         =
|mcaption      =
|abbreviation  =
|formation     = 1965
|extinction    =
|type          = Government organization
|Parent Agency = [[National Weather Service]]
|status        =
|purpose       = Severe [[weather spotting]]
|headquarters  = [[Silver Spring, Maryland]]
|region_served = [[United States]]
|membership    = Volunteer
|language      = English
|num_staff     = >300,000<ref name="Wilson"/>
|budget        =
|website       = [https://www.weather.gov/skywarn/ NWS Skywarn]
|remarks       =
}}
'''Skywarn''' (sometimes stylized as '''SKYWARN''') is a program of the [[National Weather Service]] (NWS). Its mission is to collect reports of localized [[severe weather]] in the United States. These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings and to improve the forecasting and warning processes and the tools used to collect meteorological data. Reports are also used by local [[emergency manager]]s and [[public safety organizations]].

Skywarn consists of a network of severe [[storm spotter]]s who observe weather conditions and make reports of severe weather to their local NWS offices. These spotters are regularly trained by personnel from the local NWS offices. In many areas, classes are conducted each spring in advance of the coming severe weather season.<ref name=jacksonnws>{{cite web|date=March 3, 2006 |title=NWS Jackson, MS - SKYWARN: Spotter Information |publisher=National Weather Service |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/sky2FR.php |access-date=April 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011094422/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/sky2FR.php |archive-date=October 11, 2006 }}</ref> Many Skywarn spotters use methods to communicate with one another during severe storm events. A notable example of this is through the use of [[amateur radio net]]s, which is still an important method since severe weather can significantly disrupt local [[telecommunications]] systems. The program began in 1965, and counts over 300,000 active trained spotters.<ref name="Wilson">{{cite web |url = https://ccsinventory.wilsoncenter.org/#projectId/3 |title = NOAA NWS SKYWARN® Weather Spotter Program |website = Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Catalog |publisher = CitizenScience.gov |access-date = July 8, 2018 }}</ref>

== Storm spotting ==
Where severe storms are possible, storm spotting groups such as Skywarn in the United States coordinate [[amateur radio operator]]s and localized spotters to keep track of severe [[thunderstorm]]s and [[tornado]]es. Reports from spotters and [[storm chasing|chasers]] are given to the National Weather Service so that they have [[ground truth]] information to warn the general public. Spotting provides ground information and localized conditions that the National Weather Service might not know the extent or might not otherwise be aware of. They typically report events, such as structures struck by [[lightning]], rotating [[wall cloud]]s, [[funnel cloud]]s—or conditions that exceed specific thresholds, such as extremely strong [[wind]]s, significant [[hail]] or very heavy rainfall. The exact reporting thresholds can vary by region and may even dynamically change during a severe weather event. Spotters also give reports during [[winter storm]]s, [[flood]]s, [[tropical cyclone|hurricanes]], and [[wildfire]]s. Some spotters also play a role in damage assessment after a disaster, by reporting or documenting areas of damage, and by helping to formulate preliminary damage estimates (such as for [[Tornado intensity|tornadoes]]).

Other countries have similar programs, such as the Canadian spotting program [[Canwarn]], the SkyWarnUK and the [[TORRO|Tornado and Storm Research Organisation]] (TORRO) programs in the United Kingdom, and [[Skywarn Europe]] for several European countries.

==Training==
[[File:SKYWARN training prepares volunteers on Peterson (5833587).jpg|thumb|A Skywarn Training presentation at [[Peterson Air Force Base]]]]
The NWS sponsors Skywarn training sessions in the US. These sessions usually occupy two hours, and focus on hazard identification and communication along with spotter strategies and safety. NWS recommends attendance at refresher courses every two years.<ref name=noa1>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions about Storm Spotting|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dvn/?n=spotters_faq|publisher=NOAA|access-date=May 18, 2010}}</ref>

=== Methods of participation ===
Skywarn has long been associated with [[ham 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. It does, however, require 1) the cooperation of the local Weather Forecast Office (WFO), and 2) that the station be manned continuously during severe weather events. Ham radio nets can operate to gather and relay information via landline telephone or Internet. Automatic [[weather station]] observations and spotter positions can be provided by the [[Automatic Packet Reporting System]] (APRS), which can also accommodate text message. Participation in the Skywarn program does not require an amateur radio license. More than half of all Skywarn spotters are ''not'' licensed amateur radio operators.{{fact|date=October 2015}}

Many Skywarn spotters are members of emergency services such as volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, ambulance units, or police or sheriff's departments. 

The NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to some method of communication, such as amateur radio, telephone, the Internet, etc. to join the Skywarn program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers, truck drivers, mariners, aircraft pilots, and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also strongly encouraged to become spotters.<ref name="Wilson"/>

Those without radio communication capability can still make their reports via cell phone, landline telephone, or the Internet.

== See also ==
* [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] (ARES)
* [[Citizen Weather Observer Program]] (CWOP)
* [[Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network]] (CoCoRaHS)
* [[Cooperative Observer Program]] (COOP)
* [[Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service]] (RACES)
* [[Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams]] (REACT)
* [[Significant Weather Observing Program]] (SWOP)
* [[Safecast (organization)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
* {{cite journal |last = Doswell, III |first = Charles A. |author-link = Charles A. Doswell III |author2 = A. R. Moller |author3 = H. E. Brooks |title = Storm Spotting and Public Awareness since the First Tornado Forecasts of 1948 |journal = Wea. Forecasting |volume = 14 |issue = 4|pages = 544–557 |date = 1999 |doi = 10.1175/1520-0434(1999)014<0544:SSAPAS>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode = 1999WtFor..14..544D |citeseerx = 10.1.1.583.5732 }}

== External links ==
* [http://www.weather.gov/skywarn/ Skywarn Homepage]
* [http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/weather/skywarn.html Index of Skywarn Web Pages]
* [https://www.weather.gov/arx/startspot Building a Strong Local Spotter Network] (NWSFO La Crosse)

[[Category:Emergency communication]]
[[Category:Disaster preparedness in the United States]]
[[Category:National Weather Service]]
[[Category:Meteorological data and networks]]
[[Category:Amateur radio emergency communications organizations]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Maryland]]