From Skywarn® Operations Manual, National Weather Service, Buffalo, N. Y. 

SKYWARN® is a national network of all hazard weather spotters who provide real-time severe weather information to the National Weather Service forecasters.

Storm spotters are an integral part of the NWS warning decision-making process.  Their reports are invaluable in making accurate and timely forecasts and warnings.  While current day radars can indicate rotation in a thunderstorm, storm spotters can tell if it is a tornado and precisely where it is; while radar can indicate there is hail in a thunderstorm, spotters can tell how large it is.

In combination with radar, satellite and surface observations, spotter reports are critical for confirmation of weather forecasts and warnings.

SKYWARN® HISTORY 

During the early 1940s the Weather Bureau cooperated with the military in setting up volunteer spotter networks to protect military installations.  The value of first hand, real time information was recognized.

After a tornado killed 80 and injured 273 people in Kansas in 1955, the Weather Bureau decided to train severe weather spotters.   The decision was made to recruit severe weather spotters to help obtain real-time severe weather information in order to help extend the lead-time and increase the accuracy of severe weather forecasts.

On March 8, 1959, in Wellington, Kansas, the first training for 225 severe weather spotters was held.

The National Weather Service currently has over 150, 000 trained all-hazard weather spotters in the SKYWARN® program nationwide.

The OCEC/RACES supports the Skywarn® program and provides the Buffalo office with real-time reports from here.   Radio Amateurs from around the county and from bordering counties gather severe weather information and pass it along via radio for forwarding to Buffalo. 

OCEC/RACES also was part of the procedures helping the county achieve StormReady status.  As of November, 2006, we are one of nine counties in the state to have this award.  See StormReady Renewal Notice for Oswego County.

Left to Right:  Terry Benett, EMO; Brien Mathews KA2AON, Skywarn Coordinator;Stan Levine, NWS Buffalo; Russ Johnson, Chairman County Legislature; Pat Egan, Director EMO; Don Gardner W2VIV RACES

Skywarn activities take place on the 147.15 repeater.  Follow directions of net control for reporting severe weather conditions.  Click here for more Skywarn® Information