The first and foremost
concern of
Twin
Cities metro area, as well as the National Weather Service.
Reports from spotters in the field are essential in assisting the National Weather Service in the accurate and efficient issuance of severe weather warnings in areas where lives and property may be in the path of dangerous weather conditions. Through ongoing training and education, we will operate a weather spotter net, with the primary interests of spotter and public safety as The number one priority.
Skywarn Net & Spotter Operating Procedures
1. Skywarn Net Activation
a.
b. The
Skywarn net control station will announce the active skywarn net on Frequency, once every 10 minutes while the
net is active. This will also Include a brief update on the current severe weather
situation. Depending on the weather
situation, net control may also announce the Skywarn
net reportable conditions criteria during this time.
c. The Skywarn net control station will take check-ins on an
event-by-event basis, depending on the weather situation, upon net
activation. If check-ins are requested,
spotters will check in to the Skywarn net, using
their
Example:
Spotter:
“2610”
Spotter:
“1411”
Net
Control: “Net control acknowledges 2610.”
Spotter:
“This is Jim, I’m located at the intersection of
roads 75 and 39 in
Net
Control: “Net control acknowledges 1411”
Spotter: “This is Brian, I’m located in downtown
d.
2. Spotter operating procedures
a. The
first priority of the Skywarn net is to keep the
frequency clear for SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS ONLY! Spotters, will
also alert the net control of any conditions that affect their personal safety,
as well as emergencies by calling, “Break break,
emergency!”
b.
Spotters will only contact net control with reportable severe weather
observations, or specific information requested by the net control.
c. Reportable Conditions
1. Any size hail
2.
Wind damage, such as trees, or large branches down, roof or structural damage,
as well as signs down.
3. Persistent rotating wall clouds that last 1-5 minutes, or non-rotating
wall clouds that last 5-12 minutes.
4.
Very rapidly rotating wall clouds are to be reported immediately!
5. Funnel clouds.
6. Tornadoes
7.
Very significant flooding, causing fast moving water to run (not pond) Over
roads, yards and farm fields.
d. Spotters will report severe weather
conditions by first calling net control with their
Example:
Spotter: “2610 hail”
Net Control: ”2610
go ahead”
Spotter:
“I have dime sized hail at the intersection of Wright county roads 75 and 39 in
Net
Control: “Ok, I have dime sized hail at county roads 75 and 39 in
e. Days
with Severe Wx Potential
On
days when severe weather is possible, it is the spotter’s responsibility to
closely monitor local weather forecasts.
A detailed severe weather information statement will be posted on the
This
station will relay up to date weather information pertaining to the primary
coverage area of
3.
The
frequency of 147.000 + with no tone. This is the Maple Plain Repeater System,
owned and maintained by the Robinsdale Amateur Radio
Club. This repeater does not have
emergency backup power source, if it should fail. Because of this possibility,
the Wright County Skywarn net will have a backup
frequency of 146.400 simplex. If spotter cannot make contact with the net
control on the 147.000 main after 30 seconds, they should then switch to the
simplex backup, and try to contact net control.
Please
remember in order to run an accurate and efficient Skywarn
net, the net controls as well as the National Weather Service in Chanhassen MN
are the only interested in Severe Weather Reportable Conditions! These conditions have the greatest potential
of mass injury or death to the public, as well as severe damage to property.
4. Skywarn
Spotter Education & Training
It is
recommended that all persons who wish to participate in a Wright
County
/ West Metro Skywarn net must have successfully
completed a certified Metro Skywarn, and/or National
Weather Service Spotter Training Class
within the last year. Skywarn spotter class information can be obtained through
the National Weather Service Chanhassen website, as well as The Metro Skywarn website.
5. Spotting at Night Policy
All
night spotting should be done from the house, or a safe fixed
observation point. Spotting storms under the cover of
darkness is extremely dangerous, and extreme safety measures should be taken.
6. Daytime Spotting Policy
Spotters can operate from the location of their choosing. Spotter safety is our primary concern, so only go where you can safely spot the severe weather, as well as making sure you always have two ways out of any one spotting location.
1. The net control operator will bring up the
active weather net on frequency, when severe weather is threatening the primary
coverage area of
a. The net
control operator will promptly announce on frequency, all severe watches &
weather warnings that are issued for the primary coverage area while the Skywarn net is active.
b.
thunderstorm or tornado watch. However, the net control as well as all spotters should go to a heightened
state of readiness, and are advised to
closely monitor weather information outlets and prepare for possible net activation in a short timeframe, when a
watch has been issued.
(When a particularly dangerous
situation watch has been issued for the
primary coverage area, it will be the discretion of the net control whether or not to activate the Skywarn net based on the current
weather situation. A net control
conference call will be made by the Skywarn coordinator to discuss the current weather situation before activating the
net. An informal weather net may take place for a time during this type of
watch, before the formal Skywarn net is activated.)
2. Skywarn
Net Control Format
The net control will come on air and announce the activation of the weather net, followed by the local time in 24-hour format. This will be followed by a description of the reason for the net activation. After activating the weather net, the net control may or may not take check-ins from spotters depending on the severe weather situation at the start of the net. Throughout the net, the net control operator will announce the active Skywarn net, as well as give and update on the weather situation once every 10 minutes while the net is active.
Example
Net:
Net
Control: “This is KC0SNC net control for the
“At
this time I will now take check-ins to the
Spotter: “1917”
Spotter: “1411”
Net
Control: “Net control acknowledges 1917”
Spotter:
“This is Lee, located in Annandale WB0TRA”
Net
Control: “Net Control acknowledges 2610”
Spotter:
“This is Jim, located in downtown
Net
Control: “Net control acknowledges 1411”
Spotter:
“Brian here, located in maple
Reporting to the National
Weather Service
Once
net control receives a report of severe weather on the
Example:
Spotter:
“(On Maple Plain Repeater) 2610 Hail”
Net
Control: “2610 acknowledged go ahead”
Spotter:
“This is Jim. I have golf ball sized hail covering the ground in downtown
Annandale KA0CSW.”
Net
Control: “Net control copies golf ball sized hail covering the
ground in downtown
Net
Control: “(On Becker Repeater) K0MPX this is KC0SNC.”
Chanhassen
N.W.S.: “KC0SNC go ahead.”
Net
Control: “This is KC0SNC with Wright County Skywarn. I have a report of golf ball sized hail
covering the ground in downtown
Chanhassen N.W.S.: “Chanhassen net control copy’s. Thank you for the report at 1828, K0MPX.” (Total estimated elapsed time from the Spotter in the field to the net control in Chanhassen 2 minutes.)
Skywarn Net Close format
The
net control will close the Skywarn net when severe
weather is no longer threatening the primary coverage area. A brief message about the current weather
situation will be given, ending with current local time and amateur radio call sign.
Wrightwarn Plan 2006
Metro Skywarn
National
Weather Service Twin Cities Chanhassen
Nick
A. Elms - (WCARS)
Jim Westrup - (WCARS) President
Lee Lorentz - (WCARS) Founder