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About Skywarn |
 | Severe weather may be more of a consideration in some places than others. But for certain...it will strike, at some time, no matter where you are on the planet. The National Weather Service (part of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce) utilizes an array of atmospheric measuring instruments to collect and interpret vital data related to weather systems and patterns that may affect us. These instruments, though cutting edge technology, are limited in many ways and require additional resources so the NWS can provide fast and accurate warnings to citizens.
The most common shortfall, is a "line of sight" issue, which refers to the actual area of coverage capable by weather radar systems. These systems have a dark (or unreadable) area close to the surface of the earth, that can not be seen. The further away the target is, the more of the dark area that will exist (sometimes as much as 20,000 feet). This area of invisibility to Doppler radar leaves a large margin for harmful anomalies to slip through undetected.
The SKYWARN Program was implemented by the NWS in the 1970's, and retains a critical role as a first line of defense for severe weather threats such as storms, tornadoes and flash floods. The National Weather Service trains new volunteers every year, and requires all storm spotters to complete the basic course every two years to remain in the program. Over 280,000 strong, SKYWARN storm spotters and storm trackers brave the elements and adverse conditions, and gather that much needed information known as "ground truth", and relay it back to the NWS. This is done most often through an elaborate system of HAM, or amateur radio networking and reporting frequencies. The organization of these individuals is normally left to municipal and/or county emergency management entities, or the local fire departments in any given municipality. The "on location" human advantage, coupled with Doppler radar, and data collected from satellite and other sources, greatly increases practical, advanced warning time, giving citizens the precious extra moments they need to safeguard their lives and property.
The U.S. boasts a wide and varying number of eco-systems and climatology. And subsequently, her range of atmospheric conditions is just as diverse. With an average of 10,000 storms, 5000 floods, and 1000 tornadoes annually, SKYWARN storm spotters and trackers are an invaluable resource to the NWS, and a priceless asset to their communities. |
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