The Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club in cooperation with the National Weather Service is hosting the SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training class. This is the Basic Spotter class that is presented by NWS personnel to train individuals to be able to spot signs of severe weather and report timely, accurate reports back to the Morristown Weather Forecast Office. These reports are used to help issue more timely and accurate warnings of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods, said officials.
With today's forecasting and radar technology, the NWS still relies on volunteers in the field to give a first hand account of what is happening in real time. This information is used not only to verify what the Forecast Office is seeing, but also to improve the way warnings are issued and collect data that will help with future forecasting.
SKYWARN is a nationwide network of volunteer storm spotters trained by the National Weather Service. This network helps the NWS achieve its main mission of protecting lives and property of the area it serves. Reports from trained spotters are considered highly credible due to the training received. The partnership of the NWS and Amateur Radio operators has a long history but you do not have to be a Amateur Radio operator to be a member of SKYWARN. Anyone with an interest in weather or public service is needed in the SKYWARN program. Everyone is invited to become a member of SKYWARN no matter what their occupation.
The next training class will be held Feb. 7 at the Memorial Hospital Community Room, 2525 Desales Ave., at 6 p.m.
This class is open to all Amateur Radio operators and the general public. The class will be around two hours in length with the CARC meeting to follow right after. All are welcome to stay for the CARC meeting. This program is free to all and at the completion of the training, and they will be issued a spotter identification number to use when giving any reports.
For more information on the Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club, SKYWARN, or the SKYWARN training class, please contact: Brian Simms at 280-1238 or email PIC@W4AM.org.