Reporting protocol for the MoKan EP Severe Weather net (Skywarn net)

MoKan EP skywarn welcomes and encourages spotter participation during severe weather events. The amount of active spotters seem to grow with every severe weather event that we have had recently. Like most well organized Skywarn groups it is extremely important that we all follow the correct procedures and protocol for reporting severe weather to net control. This will keep radio traffic minimized and eliminate more work for a busy net control operator. This will also help keep good relations with the NWS and prove us to be valuable to them during severe weather events.

Storm spotter training and information.
Spotter Dashboard
NWS Severe weather briefing page

Weather net activated
Once a weather net is activated please keep reports to net control brief and pertaining to the event or area of interest. Please use normal protocol that is taught in the NWS spotter class. All spotters that participate must have completed the NWS spotter class. See list below for severe weather criteria. PLEASE DO NOT REPORT NON SEVERE WEATHER TO NET CONTROL. The NWS E-spotter product works great for this.

Tornadic weather
Once a storm cell has been categorized as tornadic,either by radar or spotter reports,weather reports should be limited to the area of interest and damage reports. Any other reports given at this time will be replied with a reminder that spotters are tracking a tornadic storm. Mobile spotters and base spotters with a view of the tornadic storm(s) should be given priority at this point

Severe Weather reports consist of the following.

TORNADO SPOTTED
o IS SURFACE DAMAGE OCCURING?
o WHAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE TORNADO?
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o DIRECTION AND DISTANCE FROM YOU TO THE TORNADO?
o DIRECTION AND RATE OF TRAVEL OF THE TORNADO?
FUNNEL CLOUD
o IS SURFACE DAMAGE OCCURING?
o IS FUNNEL VISABLE HALFWAY TO GROUND?
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o DIRECTION AND DISTANCE FROM YOU TO FUNNEL?
o DIRECTION AND RATE OF TRAVEL OF FUNNEL?
WALL CLOUD
o IS SUSTAINED ROTATION VISIBLE IN THE CLOUD?
o IS SURFACE DAMAGE OCCURING?
o WHERE IS THE UPDRAFT LOCATED ON THE WALL CLOUD?
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o DIRECTION AND DISTANCE FROM YOU TO WALL CLOUD?
o DIRECTION AND RATE OF TRAVEL OF WALL CLOUD?
WIND SPEED IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH OR DAMAGE TO LARGE TREES OR ROOFS.
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o WHAT DIRECTION IS WIND COMING FROM?
o BRIEFLY DESCRIBE DAMAGE
HAIL LARGER THAN ½” Diameter.
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o WHAT IS ESTIMATED SIZE OF HAIL (IN INCHES)
o HOW HEAVY IS IT FALLING?
o IS THERE ANY DAMAGE FROM IT?
FLOODING (EXTENSIVE STREET FLOODING, SMALL STREAMS)
o WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION?
o IS WATER FLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD?
o IS RISING WATER THREATENING LIFE OR PROPERTY?

Below is an example of a routine severe weather report to net control

spotter >         Net control this is (call sign) with a hail (severe weather) report

net control >   Net control go ahead with hail report

spotter >         Nickel size hail Fort scott Kansas at 7:20pm

net control >   Nickel size hail Fort Scott Kansas at 7:20pm. thankyou, net control

What is Skywarn?  Visit the NOAA Skywarn homepage to find out.

Interested in Ham Radio and Skywarn spotting?  Contact Us