The National Weather Service has asked us to change the date for the SKYWARN Drill / Net Control Training due to unforeseen construction at the facility that will take place at the end of September. Therefore, we have rescheduled the Training to October 17th, from 7PM-9PM. Please update your calendars.
WHERE: NWS Forecast Office, 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME 04039
WHEN: Thursday, October 17 (7PM-9PM)
73′
Eric Emery
KC1HJK
MEMO: TO ALL MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE AMATUER RADIO CLUBS & ARES GROUPS
The SKYWARN program needs your help!
Since 2014, the area of responsibility for the National Weather Service in Gray, ME has expanded to include the entire state of New Hampshire (Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan Counties), as well as Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and York Counties in Maine, plus coastal water areas from Stonington, ME to the Merrimack River, extending out 25nm. This is a huge area to cover, and because of this, we need help establishing local net control operators who can activate SKYWARN nets in their counties when needed.
To help make this a reality, we will be hosting a SKYWARN Drill / Net Control Training on Thursday, September 26, from 7pm – 9pm. Anyone interested in attending is welcome to join us at the NWS Forecast Office at 1 Weather Lane, Gray, ME 04039. The training will be hands-on and operate within a simulated weather scenario. Spotters are also welcome to join us on the air to exchange reports.
For current and prospective SKYWARN Net Control Operators:
Nets can be formal or informal depending on the severity of the weather event. Most of the time, they are informal callups for weather observations on a local repeater. In some cases, if many reports start coming in from a certain area, the net may be formalized to help organize the traffic flow. Here’s an example of the different net modes that we use:
WATCH MODE: “The National Weather Service has indicated that there is a THREAT for SEVERE WEATHER within the listening area of this repeater. (We will run a net. The repeater system may be in use during the time, but be cautious that a net could be active)
WARNING MODE: The National Weather Service has indicated that SEVERE WEATHER IS OCCURRING within the listening area of this repeater. (We are in an active net, check-ins will require to check periodically for reports, state if you are getting into the net or listening or sending a brief report and not staying on the net!)
STANDBY MODE: Standby Mode is an informal net that is used during severe weather situations that do not warrant a directed SKYWARN Severe Weather Net. (We are listening to everything and will run a net in the event of severe weather)
We will also cover the recommended frequencies and protocols, as well as how to access the information you need to be a good net control operator, including net scripts for various scenarios.
For current and prospective spotters:
Familiarize yourself with what repeaters in your area offer SKYWARN nets. If you experience severe weather conditions at home or in your travels, call your report in to the net control station on duty. If none is heard, use whatever method is available to pass the information to the NWS. (This could include email, social media, or telephone as well as radio). In some cases, you may use combinations, for example, a voice report via radio, followed up with a photo or video via Twitter as supporting evidence. Although it is recommended, you do not have to have a SKYWARN spotter number to participate in a SKYWARN Activation! You should, however, be familiar with the reporting criteria, and if you become active on a regular basis, we encourage you to attend a spotter training class in your area. See reporting criteria below:
Summer Reporting Criteria:
Winter Reporting Criteria:
“Remember, if you see something, say something! It could help save you or someone else!”
Looking forward to working with you,
73’
Sincerely, Eric Emery (KC1HJK)
kc1hjk@maine.rr.com
SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
A cold front moves through the region this afternoon. Some thunderstorms ahead of this front could be severe and produce damaging winds, large hail, locally heavy rainfall and possibly a tornado. As always, please monitor the Hazardous Weather Outlook for updates.
SKYWARN Activation with Amateur Radio ops will commence at 11:30 AM to monitor for the potential of severe weather. We are currently monitoring the KQ1L link system and 147.090 (+ / 100.0) in Maine. Please activate local weather nets as necessary.
Below are links to the NWS Gray Hazardous Weather Outlook and Area Forecast Discussion:
Be alert and stay safe.
73′
Tim Watson
KB1HNZ
Click here for the latest update on the VoIP Hurricane Net Activation for Major Hurricane Dorian. (Monday 9/2/19 – 800 AM EDT/1200 UTC Update)
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