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Weather
Weather Spotting
Most National Weather Service offices need spotters to provide GROUND-TRUTH information in order to alert the general public to hazardous weather situations. Your GROUND TRUTH reports help meteorologists verify what their radar is "seeing", as well as damage reports and situational awareness reports after the fact. Amateur radio operators for decades have - and continue to - provide this information to Warning Forecast Offices all over the US, even with the proliferation of apps, social media and improved connectivity. Ham radio operators, when trained, can use amateur radio repeaters and "nets" to share reportable criteria and make situational reports that many people in the public even monitor. Hams that decide to help with weather spotting should not take this responsibility lightly and seek training each year to keep their skills up to par. This page will contain some links and information that new hams may find valuable to participate in this very important facet of amateur radio, which is Public Service. Read on how to help, and what I'm doing here also.
Spotter Criteria
The NWS usually knows it's raining. They know there is lightning, but is it too much? Meteorologists are looking for rain is falling in rates over an inch an hour, or wind knocking trees over. How does one know what to say? It's called "Reportable Criteria" It's the specific information each office wants in its specific format, usually helps classify a watch, or upgrade a warning to go out. Each office may be a bit different, but overall, this is what they're looking for (once you're trained to spot it and you follow your local office guidelines) you to report.
Spotter Criteria Sample (CLICK HERE)
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Tornado - All tornadoes, include their duration and direction of movement.
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Funnel Cloud - All funnel clouds, watch for rotation. Include their duration and direction of movement.
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Wall Cloud - All wall clouds, include their duration and direction of movement.
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Hail - 1/2 inch in diameter and larger. Hail needs to be one inch (quarter-sized in diameter) to be considered severe. Always report the largest hailstone you have observed and describe in terms of common objects such as pennies, quarters, golf balls, softballs, etc. The size of the hailstone will always be described in terms of the diameter. Also report hail that is accumulating and covering the ground.
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Near Continuous Cloud to Ground Lightning
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Winds—All winds greater than 45 MPH
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Heavy Rain—Falling at a rate of 1” per hour or greater (1/2” in 30 minutes) , or more than 1” per day in winter. Rapidly falling heavy rain may be a precursor to flash flooding.
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Freezing Rain/Drizzle—Any measurable freezing rain. This is one of the most dangerous winter weather hazards!
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Heavy snow—1” per hour or greater, or storm total 4” or more, or snow causing road closures.
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Flooding - Any water flowing where it normally does not or rivers flowing above their banks.
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Flash Flooding—Report rapid rises in creeks and streams. Flash flooding occurs very quickly, and generally is of short duration ( < 3 hours)
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Low Visibility—Visibility less than 1/2 mile for any reason (fog, haze, blowing dust, blowing snow, etc.)
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Any and All Weather Related Damage, Death, or Injury—If weather causes any damage, death, or injury.
Tools
Links to interesting weather tools for spotters.
Radar Scope is a very good weather app for both Android and iPhones, as well as a desktop version. Very customizable and nice for field work.
My Repeaters Are Always Available
Many spotter groups across Arkansas have their own repeater systems, nets and coverages that pertain to specific areas. New hams should check out what is local to them. As always, my repeaters are 100% available to all hams, at any time, for proper amateur radio purposes. This includes spotting, and reporting, if needed. However, it's best to seek out clubs and groups established for this purpose and learn how you can help them, and your community. As usual, emergencies take priority and hams are encouraged to get trained and participate in public service.
My Stuff
More to come soon. Here's a link to my local weather station while I rebuild my monitoring and camera systemss.
Next Steps
Best is to find a local SKYWARN group close to you and get involved. There are clubs and groups all over Arkansas that do these things as part of their every day operations. Get on the radio, find out who's close and get involved! If you're shy, get with me and I'll help you find a group close to home. And if you're in Marion County, let's do one here!! I'll be first.... ;)