SKYWARN  WEATHER NETS

Throughout eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, trained and dedicated individuals monitor the skies around their communities during severe weather events. These storm  spotters provide first-hand severe weather reports to their local  officials and to the National Weather Service, which are used to make  critical warning decisions.

Being a storm spotter not only means dedication but also training. Each winter and spring the Tulsa office of the National Weather Service trains members of police & fire departments, emergency management officials and amateur radio operators on spotting techniques. Typically, the training is coordinated by a local group (such as an emergency management agency) and a NWS  meteorologist serves as the guest instructor. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to locate the date of the meeting in your area. The goal of the training  is not just to recognize tornadoes but to have some understanding of  storm structure, which in turn better prepares the spotter for the extreme and unusual circumstances. Other topics covered include an update on the latest NWS technology and procedures, ideas for organizing / coordinating spotter groups, and important safety considerations.
Click on the official Skywarn Webpage to see the site that will explain the program in depth.
 
NW Arkansas is an ideal location for amateur radio operators to gain valuable on air experience while working with the Skywarn program.
The NWA Skywarn group provides NWS trained spotters who relay current reportable bad weather conditions to the Net Control Operator who then notifies the NWS in Tulsa about the known ground conditions in a particular area.