Skywarn

A notable example of this is through the use of amateur radio nets, which is still an important method since severe weather can significantly disrupt local telecommunications systems.Reports from spotters and chasers are given to the National Weather Service so that they have ground truth information to warn the general public.They typically report events, such as structures struck by lightning, rotating wall clouds, funnel clouds—or conditions that exceed specific thresholds, such as extremely strong winds, significant hail or very heavy rainfall.The NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to some method of communication, such as amateur radio, telephone, the Internet, etc.Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also strongly encouraged to become spotters.
A SKYWARN Training presentation at Peterson Air Force Base
weather spottingSilver Spring, MarylandUnited StatesNational Weather Servicesevere weatheremergency managerspublic safety organizationsstorm spottersamateur radio netstelecommunicationsamateur radio operatorsthunderstormstornadoeschasersground truthlightningwall cloudsfunnel cloudswinter stormsfloodshurricaneswildfiresCanwarnTornado and Storm Research OrganisationSkywarn EuropePeterson Air Force Baseham radioweather stationAutomatic Packet Reporting SystemAmateur Radio Emergency ServiceCitizen Weather Observer ProgramCommunity Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow NetworkCooperative Observer ProgramRadio Amateur Civil Emergency ServiceRadio Emergency Associated Communication TeamsSignificant Weather Observing ProgramSafecast (organization)Doswell, III, Charles A.BibcodeCiteSeerX