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Krissy Scotten, Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS AMA, will be presenting a SKYWARN certification class for the PARC ARES group on Tuesday February 5th at 19:00 at the AES Building located at 1900 Line Avenue in Amarillo, TX. This class will be open to the public. If you are unable to attend the SKYWARN Training scheduled for our ARES meeting, the 2013 Spotter Training Schedule is available here.

SKYWARN is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) severe weather spotting program with nearly 290,000 trained volunteers nationwide. Since the late 1960s, trained SKYWARN spotters have helped support the NWS’ primary mission of protecting life and property through the issuance of severe weather warnings. These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS Forecast Office. SKYWARN spotters are integral to the success of our Nation’s severe weather warning system.

Every year the NWS conducts SKYWARN spotter training sessions. The NWS currently has 122 Weather Forecast Offices across the nation, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN program in their local area. There is no charge and a typical class takes about 2 hours to conduct.

Storm Spotter certification is required every two years, but please consider attending this class even if your certification has not expired. If you are not currently a SKYWARN spotter and you are interested in joining our volunteer group you are welcome to attend this training as well.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service.  Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN name and logo are available here.

For more information about SKYWARN, please click here.

If you are interested in joining ARES, please click here.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, please click here.

SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN amateur radio operators make to the NWS. For a 24-hour period, SKYWARN operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world.

This is a fun contest, an opportunity to get to know the NWS personnel, and an excellent opportunity for fellowship with other SKYWARN hams. In years past, the NWS office has graciously provided pizza, doughnuts, cake and snacks.

The 2011 edition of SKYWARN Recognition Day will occur on 12/3/2011 from 0000Z to 2359Z (Local time will be Friday December 2nd at 6:00 P.M. until Saturday December 3rd at 6:00 P.M. CDST).

CLICK HERE to register to volunteer for the SRD Special Event!

Krissy Scotten will be presenting a SKYWARN certification class for the PARC ARES group on Tuesday March 8th 2011 at 19:30 at the AES Building at 1900 Line Avenue in Amarillo, TX. If you are unable to attend the SKYWARN Training scheduled for our ARES meeting, the 2011 Spotter Training Schedule is available here.

Skywarn® is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) severe weather spotting program with nearly 290,000 trained volunteers nationwide. Since the late 1960s, trained Skywarn® spotters have helped support the NWS’ primary mission of protecting life and property through the issuance of severe weather warnings. These dedicated citizens help keep their local community safe by conveying severe weather reports to their local NWS Forecast Office. Skywarn® spotters are integral to the success of our Nation’s severe weather warning system.

Every year the NWS conducts Skywarn® spotter training sessions. The NWS currently has 122 Weather Forecast Offices across the nation, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the Skywarn® program in their local area. There is no charge and a typical class takes about 2 hours to conduct.

Storm Spotter certification is required every two years, but please consider attending this class even if your certification has not expired. We have some new personnel out at the Amarillo NWS, and this would be a great time to meet them. Additionally, Krissy Scotten, Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS AMA, will be instructing our training and she has indicated that she will be putting together a more “robust” or “advanced” curriculum specifically for our group. If you are unable to attend this training, information on future spotter trailing classes will be posted here as information is available. If you are not currently a SKYWARN spotter and you are interested in joining our volunteer group you are welcome to attend this training as well.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service.  Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available here.

For more information about SKYWARN, please click here.

If you are interested in joining ARES, please click here.

If you are interested in Amateur Radio, please click here.

Update/Clarification: This event is Friday December 3rd at 6:00 PM Central until Saturday December 4th at 6:00 PM Central.

The 12th Annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Special Event will take place Saturday, December 4, 2010. SRD is co-sponsored by the ARRL and the National Weather Service (NWS) as a way to recognize the commitment made by Amateur Radio operators in helping to keep their communities safe. During SRD, Amateur Radio operators can visit their local participating NWS office, working as a team to contact other hams across the world throughout the 24 hour event.

For more information on the SKYWARN Recognition Day Event please visit the ARRL Website.

Click Here for a slideshow of the 2009 SRD Special Event at Amarillo!

Raymond Winter, W5RAW, has volunteered to bring in an operating station and logging software. We need an antenna or two–we might know someone with a very nice tower trailer! Also, we need operator pairs (loggers and operators) who can work in shifts to cover a 24-hour period. Terra and I will take the early, early, early morning shift (0400-0800) unless someone else wants it! This year the Amarillo NWS will design and print the QSL cards for us.

To volunteer to help out with the Amarillo SKYWARN Recognition Day Special Event, please contact:

Chris Seright, KE5ZRT

Send me some mail!

or call 806 231-4227

or Twitter: @chris_seright

Update/Clarification: This event is Friday December 3rd at 6:00 PM Central until Saturday 6:00 PM Central.