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Announcements
Spotter training coming up June 5th in Rockland, ME, June 8th - a Saturday - at the Auburn, ME Library and in Whitefield, NH on June 22nd. Check the spotter training link above for locations, details and changes.
The Spring 2013 issue of The Coastal Front is available.The lead article deals with the "Record-Breaking New England Blizzard", along with several other interesting articles.
Rick, N1SGL and Ivan, N1OXA setting up for the 2013 Winter Field Day at WXGYX site.
Mark, KG1Q (left) at the WX1GYX operating postion during Saturday's segment of Skywarn Recognition Day. Also at the console during the 24 hour operating session was Shawn, W1SAB, on the overnite shift, assisted by Tom, N1KTA. Total contacts was in the neighborhood of 213, the third highest total for WX1GYX Skywarn.
You can tell its autum because the trees are starting to turn and the fall 2012 issue of The Coastal Front, Vol-III-3 is available. It can be downloaded here. Articles on waterspouts, fire weather and river forcasting are included amoung others.
Yankee Skywarn® now has a mobile web presence. Blackberrys, iPhones and Androids seem to work well. Check in out and let me know.
Tom, N1KTA, has provided GYX forecast area snowfall maps from the unusual October storm. There are two the first is without topography and the second with topography. And a later "fixed" edition from Tom. All are quick loading JPEG's.
The newest version of the Weather Spotter's Field Guide, A Guide to Being a Skywarn Spotter. The document is 72 pages and is a 27meg download so be prepared. Its worth the time. Download from here.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has updated its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ARRL. The updated MoU serves “as a framew
ork within which volunteers of the ARRL may coordinate their services, facilities and equipment with the NWS in support of nationwide, state and local early weather warning and emergency communications function.”
Through its SKYWARN® program, the NWS recognizes that Amateur Radio operators have assisted as communicators and weather spotters since the program began in the late 1960s. More on this annoncement here.
More Skywarn/CoCoRahs training sessions are in the offing. Watch here for announcements.
Proposed NOAA Climate Service article here.
Golf ball size hail in Belgrade, near Great Pond on June 16, 2011. Photo coutesy of Dylan Hawes.
How to Participate
Who is Eligible?
The National Weather Service encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such as HAM radio, to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter.
How Can I Get Involved?NWS has 122 local Weather Forecast Offices, each with a Warning Coordination Meteorologist, who is responsible for administering the SKYWARN® program in their local area. Training is conducted by the Gray office in the forecast area of northern New Hampshire and western Maine and covers :
- Basics of thunderstorm development
- Fundamentals of storm structure
- Identifying potential severe weather features
- Information to report
- How to report information
- Basic severe weather safety
Classes are free and typically are about two hours long. To find out when a SKYWARN® class will be conducted in local your area, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your Snow and Storm Spotter Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
National Weather Service
Gray Weather Forecast Office
P.O. Box 1208
Gray, ME 04039
(207) 688-3216
SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA's National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available here.