Help your community! Spot and report severe weather with SKYWARN!

SKYWARN

Wichita, KS SKYWARN 2010

What is SKYWARN?

• SKYWARN volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe Wx reports.

• SKYWARN, formed in the early 1970's, has historically provided critical severe weather information to the NWS in time to get the appropriate warnings issued.

• The key focus of the SKYWARN program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers.

SKYWARN and Amateur Radio

• The NWS collaborated with the Amateur Radio Relay League to bolster SKYWARN participation.

• SKYWARN is frequently supported through the use of community based amateur radio organizations: CERT, RACES, and ARES.

• You can still be a SKYWARN member without being affiliated with these organizations!

• You can still be a SKYWARN member even without being an amateur radio operator.

How Does SKYWARN work?• When the NWS needs SKYWARN activation:– An informational email will be sent out to members• Members check their weather sources to be ready• Get equipment ready

– Another email will be sent out a few hours before– A phone text will be sent to those who signed up

when their county has been activated– Members send weather information to the NWS via

amateur radio, eSpotter, or Twitter (new)• Activation is not mandatory – you choose when!

Why Amateur Radio?

• It is much safer to be spotting weather as an amateur radio operator when operating mobile– SKYWARN operators relay Wx from the NWS to you!– You hear live Wx reports from other hams

• Acquiring an amateur radio license is easy!– Internet information available– Technician class Books available– 35 multiple choice questions– A list of classes and information is available on the

handout available tonight

How to become a SKYWARN member!

• Attend the NWS sponsored Severe Weather Briefing (you are in the class right now!) yearly

• Fill out the membership form– Required: Name, address, phone, email, county– Optional: Callsign, any other qualifications

• You will be asked to join two things:– Phone text “activation” list– SKYWARN email list on Yahoo

ICT NWS SKYWARN Repeaters

Stateline Repeater System 443.450+ (203.5 Hz) Alva, OK147.300+ (203.5 Hz) Anthony, KS 146.850- (103.5 Hz) Derby, KS444.125+ (156.7 Hz) Haviland, KS 445.300 (203.5 Hz) Norwich, KS

K-Link Repeater System442.750+/146.685- (118.8 Hz)

Clay Center, KS 146.865- Concordia, KS146.925- (118.8 Hz) Concordia

Norway147.050+/442.450+ (131.8 Hz)

Hays, KS147.200+ Lincoln, KS 444.600+ (110.9 Hz) McPherson, KS 442.100+ (118.8 Hz) Miltonvale, KS444.850+ (162.2 Hz) Minneapolis, KS 147.225+ (118.8 Hz) Minneapolis, KS 147.380+ (131.8 Hz) Osborne, KS 442.200+ (118.8 Hz) Salina, KS 444.950+ (131.8 Hz) Russell, KS444.450+ (100.0 Hz) Sterling, KS

SEKS Repeater System147.015+ (91.5 Hz) / 145.490-

Independence, KS147.015+ (156.7 Hz) Neodesha, KS

Non-Linked Repeaters145.130- (156.7 Hz) Beaumont, KS147.150+ El Dorado, KS146.610- / 442.875+ (91.5 Hz)

Coffeeville, KS146.985- (88.5 Hz) Emporia, KS146.760- Great Bend, KS147.180+ Humboldt, KS146.610- Newton, KS146.685- (100.0 Hz) Parsons, KS146.955- (100.0 Hz) Sedan, KS146.895- Wichita, KS145.190- Winfield, KS