W5YM University WeatherNet/Washington County Spotter's Guide A Guide for Weather Emergency Communications W5YM University WeatherNet Washington County Spotter's Guide Compiled by Bill Smith, ARRL DEC L, Washington County Asst. EC Revised 2007 Edition W5YM University WeatherNet/Washington County Spotter's Guide CONTENTS Introduction 3 Organization 4 Training Nets 4 Net Activation Procedure 4 Key NWS Terms 5 NOAA Weather Radio Freq & SAME Codes 5 Net Procedures 6 Field Spotter's Guide 7 Severe Weather Definitions 0- Field Safety General Weather Information 3 Beaufort Scale 4 Hail Scale 5 NW Arkansas Repeaters 6 Weekly Training Net Script 7-22 Activation Scripts 23-27 Procedure 23 Standby Net 24 Active Net 25 Emergency Net 26 Closing Nets 27 Emergency Net -- Winter Weather 28 APPENDIX Four-State County Map 30 State of Arkansas County Map 3 State of Oklahoma County Map 32 Tulsa NWS Spotter Frequency Map 33 Tulsa Wide Area System Map 34 Arkansas SKYWARN Statewide Frequency Map 35 Sample Spotter Network Log 36 2 W5YM University WeatherNet/Washington County Spotter's Guide INTRODUCTION This manual is designed to be a reference guide for spotters engaged in the W5YM University WeatherNet. It is adapted from the format established by the National Weather Service, specifically the national template manual for SKYWARN Amateur Radio Operations authored by Daniel Gropper at the NWS Office in Sterling, Vir., and from the current Emergency Communications operational procedures endorsed by the Amateur Radio Relay League’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service. The scales and charts contained within are provided by the National Weather Service, other regional SKYWARN organizations and the ARRL. Reporting criteria employed by the W5YM University WeatherNet has been tailored to the specific needs of Washington County, and may reflect different standards than NWS Tulsa, Little Rock or Fort Smith. The W5YM University WeatherNet is a local informal weather net. It is not a storm chaser net. The primary goals of the W5YM University WeatherNet is assisting with “ground truth” reports on severe weather from the Washington County area and promoting severe weather awareness in both the amateur radio community and general public. As such, the W5YM University WeatherNet serves as a relay for pertinant information to served agencies across the region. Amateur radio serves a vital role in the NWS warning system. Amateur radio operators possess many characteristics which make them ideal members of a WeatherNet or SKYWARN-type operation. All equipment used in the W5YM University WeatherNet is maintained by the amateur radio operators who are volunteering their time and expertise to the cause of raising awareness for severe weather safety. Storm spotters are a critical part of the Integrated Warning System of the National Weather Service. Our current generation of Doppler weather radar is extremely accurate, but distance is a major factor in its accuracy. The further from the radar tower, the curvature of the earth increases the effective altitude of the lowest sweep of the radar. University studies matching GPS tracks of tornadic events to picture of the atmosphere created by radar reveal variances of as much as three miles. Veering in the lower atmosphere is a major factor, and takes place below the visibility of radar. The goals of the W5YM University WeatherNet are: 1. To channel reports from trained spotters and others into the National Weather Service office in a quick and efficient manner. 2. To educate the public about Severe Weather and in the event of a loss of normal communications, to provide warnings and organize communications related to severe weather alerts 3. To provide the opportunity for amateur radio operators to practice skills and procedures which may be required in the event of a civil emergency in which normal means of communication have been lost 4. To create and maintain organized communications networks One very important area in which the University WeatherNet is not involved on a regular basis is the dissemination of information back out during a storm. The WeatherNet is prepared to fulfill this function if called upon; however, we recommend that every home in the north- west Arkansas area have more than one means of receiving severe weather information, including a NOAA Weather Radio equipped with S.A.M.E. receiving technology. In times of severe weather, local television and cable may become disabled and power lines may be down. Individuals should make sure that you can receive weather warnings and alerts in the event of the loss of power. WHY WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT The National Weather Service has at its disposal some of the finest tools for predicting and monitoring the climate, but the most important, most sensitive, most responsive tool in the NWS arsenal is a trained spotter. The trained eye of a spotter can be the difference between watch and warning – in both directions. Doppler radar can indicate a storm has the potential for severe or tornadic weather, but it cannot see to the ground. Only the spotter can provide the last thousand feet of observation, and the further away from the radar site, the higher this “last thousand” becomes. 3 W5YM University WeatherNet/Washington County Spotter's Guide ORGANIZATION The W5YM University WeatherNet is a directed net. As such, the Net Control Station is in complete charge of the net while it is in session. Net Control may designate relay stations and assign mobile locations to spotters willing to leave their home locations. Since the spotters are volunteers, they are not encouraged to take unnecessary risks. No person should attempt mobile spotting of storms without having completed both basic and advanced storm spotting courses offered by the National Weather Service. It must be said at the outset that severe storm spotting is by definition a dangerous activity which may place life and/or property at risk. Weather spotting is a formally reconized activity by the ARRL, the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the National Weather Service. These organizations have a Memorandum of Understanding which states that ARRL will encourage local volunteer groups operat- ing as ARES to provide the NWS with spotters and communications as needed by the NWS in times of severe weather. The W5YM University WeatherNet operates at the perimeter of the region serviced by the NWS Tulsa office, and as such takes its guid- ance from and reports information to NWS Tulsa. This is handled by Net Control via approved means from Tulsa Weather, generally via the TARC Wide-Area Repeater Net when activated for severe weather. The University WeatherNet, however, recognizes the need to coordi- nate information with the NWS stations in Fort Smith and Little Rock, as well as with other county based spotter agencies. TRAINING Each Monday at 8 p.m. local time a training net is held for the purpose of acquainting area amateur radio operators with the procedure is of the net. Brief training programs will be held on specific areas of interest to weather spotters. Checking in weekly to the training net is a first step toward gaining proficiency in weather spotting; however, it cannot take the place of attending NWS sponsored basic and advanced storm spotting seminars. Spotters are asked to have attended a NWS seminar at least once every three years. Another highly encour- aged course is the Level One Emergency Communications program sponsored by the ARRL. In addition, IS 700 certification through the Department of Homeland Security's National Incident Management System is highly encouraged. Passage of the ARRL EC course or extensive prior experience with emergency net communications are a prerequisite to serving as a Net Control Station for the W5YM University WeatherNet. Persons interested in ARES operations are urged to listen to the Arkansas ARES Net each week. Informational programs are presented at 7 a.m. local time on Sundays and repeated at 7 p.m. local time on Mondays on HF at 3.9875. General class operators are encouraged to check into the net. Technicians and others interested are urged to monitor via shortwave receivers. CONTACT PERSONNEL The following persons serve the region in appointed positions for emergency communications. Bill Smith Assistant ARRL Emergency Coordinator, Washington County; District L Coordinator K1ARK 479-443-9450 (h) 575-3618 (w) 601-1039 (c) [email protected] Dan Puckett Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Washington County, University Liason K5FXB 479-575-6622 (w) [email protected] Larry Rankin Emergency Coordinator, Washington County WX5AR Assistant Director, Department of Emergency Management, Washington County, Arkansas [email protected] 479-839-2185 (h) The following persons are volunteers in the storm group serving as liasons with Washington County government John Luther Director, Department of Emergency Management, Wasington County W5LED Bill Sergeant Assistant, Department of Emergency Management, Washington County K5BHS West Fork Fire Department 4 W5YM University WeatherNet/Washington County Spotter's Guide NET ACTIVATION As a local weather net, the W5YM University WeatherNet is a self-activating organization. The net will convene in active mode with net control under the following conditions: 1. A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the immediate University of Arkansas campus area, broadly defined as Washington County. 2. Severe weather is occurring in the Washington County area, or expected to develop. This does not usually include isolated, short lived storms. 3. A communications emergency related to weather exists within the county or at one of the area National Weather Service offices. 4. A major winter storm is imminent or expected to adversely affect the Washington County area. One of the stations designated to serve as Net Control for the WeatherNet will follow the scripted procedures for opening the net in the event of the above. If Net Control is not available, a member of the trained, registered spotter base may assume the duties of net control until a NCS can report in.