storm spotters
A storm spotter is any individual who maintains a visual watch of the development and progression of severe weather events while relaying information to the local weather agency. The primary group responsible for storm spotting in the U.S. is known as SKYWARN™. SKYWARN is a volunteer program of severe weather spotters. These volunteers are trained by the National Weather Service (NWS) and given a phone number or amateur radio frequency to call if a major weather event, such as a tornado, severe thunderstorm or flood, occurs where the spotter is located. Spotter information is used by local authorities and the NWS and is an integral part of the severe weather warning process.
Anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such as HAM or amateur radio, can join the SKYWARN program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, emergency medical workers, public utility workers and private citizens. The NWS Weather Forecast Offices are responsible for administering the SKYWARN program in their local area. Classes are free and typically about two hours long. To find out when a SKYWARN class will be conducted in your area, contact your local Warning Coordination Meteorologist.
Please note that storm spotters are not the same as storm chasers. Storm spotters generally operate in a local area with their primary purpose being the observation and reporting of severe weather. Storm chasers generally travel, with the primary goal being the observation and documentation of severe weather through pictures and video. Storm chasing is chiefly a recreational endeavor, with motives usually given toward photographing the storm for personal reasons. Confusion of the two is possible as many spotters also carry photo and video equipment to document severe weather and damage, which is used as training material for future spotters and historical evidence. Additionally, chasers report storms to aid spotters and take part in spotter training sessions.
For more information on storm spotting, please view the NWS's Storm Spotter's Guide. This guide is provided by the Forecast Office in Norman, Oklahoma.
You may also wish to view information on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Storm Tracker. NOAA's Storm Tracker contains live links to advisories, tracking maps and satellite images of storms that are projected to strike the United States.
