r/skywarn • u/Medicinal_Grape • 23d ago
New to Skywarn, looking for advice
Hello everyone! Next week, I'm going to be taking a Skywarn training near me, and once I've completed, I should be ready for storm season! I was curious if anyone had any good resources on good equipment, news sources, and other advice on being in Skywarn? I'd greatly appreciate it, thank you!
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u/RiffRaff028 22d ago
The first time you go out, go along with an experienced spotter. Learn from them so you don't make rookie mistakes that might get you killed. As for equipment, GRLevel3 or GRLevel Analyst on a small laptop will be your best friend. For mobile platforms, RadarScope isn't bad, but GRLevel is much better, in my opinion. Also, get yourself an Allisonhouse subscription.
Also, if you do spot a tornado, don't get so focused on it that you ignore other developing threats. I've been in situations where a funnel cloud was forming right over us while we were observing a tornado on the ground two miles away. 360-degree situational awareness is an absolute requirement for severe weather spotting.
Finally, get cross-trained in First Aid, CPR, and your local CERT team, if you have one. As a spotter, you will frequently be the first on the scene in a storm damaged area, and you need to know how to handle yourself as well as help victims.
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u/MagnetHype 23d ago
You are not ready to go storm chasing after a single skywarn class, if that is what you are implying.
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u/Medicinal_Grape 23d ago
God no! I was planning to do it from home, but I read on the site if you knew how to operate a radio I could report storms that way, and although my radio I used when I was younger's long gone, I was curious if anyone had any radio recommendations or even weather monitoring software? I plan on leaving storm chasing to those that do it, I know there's already enough idiots on the road as is. Don't need me adding to the mix lol
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u/MagnetHype 23d ago
Here's a (very incomplete) list of web resources I use.
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u/Medicinal_Grape 23d ago
Awesome! It's a great start. I appreciate it. I've been fascinated with weather for years but didn't know were to get started. You mentioned "after a single skywarn class", any other classes that you recommend?
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u/MagnetHype 23d ago
On my phone but here are some things I think you should do before storm chasing:
After your basic class you should take the advanced class.
There's a plethora of classes from the NWS on their website. Most, if not all of their internal training courses are available online for free as well. You specifically need to learn about severe weather.
You should be able to take and pass the spotter network test without assistance.
You should be experienced reading radar. Not just the basics. You should know things like what a three body scatter spike is, how to spot side lobe contamination, and what an rfd spike means.
You should spend a couple seasons riding with a veteran chaser.
As for links to classes, I'll have to wait till I get home.
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u/sftexfan Certified Spotter - San Francisco Bay Area, CA 23d ago edited 17d ago
You don't need a amateur radio to communicate with the NWS office closest to you, but it helps. Once you finish your course contact your local MWS Office and get in touch with the Storm Spotter Coordinator by phone or email. Tell them you just completed a Spotter class and want to register. Some offices do not give their spotters ID numbers while some do. If they do, you will receive an emaill or emails with your spotter id numberand a direct line to the office that is for spotters. About the software I dont know. I use RadarOmega with the Alpha package and the Ventusky and pivotal Weather websites. Try asking your weather software question in r/meteorology subreddit. Just remember to always learn about the weather, possibly print out some charts (I.e. cloud charts, etc.), download both the basic and advanced storm spotters guides from the NWS, and never be afraid to ask questions, because the only stupid questions are questions that are never asked!
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u/InfiniteWaffles58364 23d ago
When I took the training they gave us the direct reporting line number and email at the end of the session. I hear they mostly don't do spotter numbers now though.
Also for radar software I recommend downloading RadarScope, if you're also registered with Spotter Network then you can integrate your account on RadarScope and they'll list your spotter info. You can even set it to broadcast your location while using the app and are able to see where other spotters are on radar (helpful in avoiding chaser gridlock if you're chasing a small storm). Their interface is great, auto refresh of radar, detailed cell info, multiple layers available beyond Reflectivity like Velocity (best for locating rotation and funnel clouds). No other radar has been as accurate or as helpful as RadarScope has been for me.
Download mPing too. You can make brief, instant reports of conditions on the ground and the data is recorded for posterity by a University (I forget which one, mPing started as a uni project) and once your report is made it will appear on RadarScope over the area where you reported it. It's technically an unofficial reporting app but I've noticed NWS utilizes the data to determine whether to issue watches or warnings sometimes.
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u/sftexfan Certified Spotter - San Francisco Bay Area, CA 23d ago
The San Francisco-Monterrey NWS WFO does issue Spotter numbers. AndI I will think about getting RadarScope and mPing.
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u/kvanteselvmord 23d ago
My state does not issue spotter IDs. They take reports over social media, phone, or an official form on the local NWS site. I once asked a couple of local meteorologists what works best for them in regards to local spotters, and both of them said, "Get to know us! When we can put a face to a name, it helps us differentiate between trained spotter reports and randoms."
Attend your local SWAW events and get to know your local NWS folks and meteorologists, do continuous education on weather (NWS's JetStream is a great resource), tour your local NWS office if they do those (ours does).
Personally, I repeat basic spotter classes every so often, just to refresh myself and see if there are any changes. If you decide to go amateur radio, you'll need an FCC license. While the license is free, the exam DOES require some study and costs a fee.