Click Here for 2008 Skywarn Training Schedule

Click here for a map of area Skywarn Repeaters 
(JPG, click here for PDF; Courtesy of Dave Travers at Highland Photographics)

The National Weather Service of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and cooperating organizations have established Skywarn Spotter Networks in order to secure critical information on severe local storms.

Skywarn is an effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies by expanding networks of spotters and by encouraging the widest possible participation in tornado warning programs. There is no way to stop tornadoes, and not all tornados show up on radar, but they can be seen. Lives can be saved. Only one instrument can detect a tornado or funnel with complete certainty the human eye. More concern, more spotters, more eyes are needed. lend us yours - learn Skywarn.

Three basic net operational conditions and colors are currently in use for our weather/Skywarn Nets:

Green:      NWS issues a Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado WATCH. Net is open for check-ins and reports of weather conditions.  

Yellow:    NWS issues a Severe Thunderstorm WARNING. Net is open for reports of severe weather conditions only. Check-ins occur when the report is given.  

Red:         NWS issues a Tornado WARNING. Net is closed and only responds to reports of weather conditions.  

Conditions to report:  Wall clouds, funnel clouds, high winds, tornadoes, downed power lines and hail.  

PROCEDURE FOR INITIATING SKYWARN NETS

SITUATION ONE: OAKLAND COUNTY ACTIVATES HAMS

1. OC ER&P contacts hams on call-up list indicating that a net is required. (Information based on NWS reports, etc.)
2. Hams start net from individual's home until OC Op Center is manned.
3. When ham is at the County Operations Center, the net is transferred from individual's home to OC Operations Center.
4. Net 'color' conditions are stated by ham radio operators based on criteria posted at the OC ham radio Operations Center and only indicate the condition of the radio net:
    Green: NWS issues Severe Thunderstorm WATCH
    Yellow: NWS issues Severe Thunderstorm WARNING or Tornado WATCH
    Red: NWS issues Tornado WARNING

SITUATION TWO: NWS ISSUES ALERT AND OC ER&P IS NOT ACTIVATED

1. Hams included in notification (Goldberg, Hornsby, Thompson, Walden, and Kaufman) go on a standby mode awaiting instruction from OC ER&P staff.
2. Notified hams monitor NWS MICON (17 County) Amateur Radio Net reports.
3. No further ham activity until activated by OC ER&P.

RATIONALE:

ARPSC Hams are only activated by a call from OC ER&P office. Any other activation is done at the sole responsibility of the individual ham. The reason for this is that any activation that is not initiated by OC ER&P Office does not provide liability coverage for the individual ham. Hams may be asked to activate to provide communications to neighboring Counties or communities and, under this condition, would expect that liability coverage would be provided by that organization.

Note: You may hear weather conditions being broadcast over local radio, TV or cable systems. This does not indicate that our SKYWARN net is activated. These should alert you to turn to the W8OAK repeater system and monitor it for information. Oakland County ER&P's policy is to go active when there is an indication of a storm approaching the County and the storm system is approximately one hour away from the County's borders. If you take the time to listen, you will hear if the system is active. It is not necessary to make a call to find out if a net is up and running.