NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) has announced the cancellation of SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD) 2025.

The necessary time and resources required to plan a comprehensive national event for SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2025 are not available this year. Thus, the difficult decision was made to cancel this year’s event by the NWS.

The NWS will work with ARRL and SKYWARN™ spotters to brainstorm ideas to redevelop a spotter appreciation event in 2026.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with NWS, emphasized the strength of the long-standing partnership behind the event. “ARRL is proud of the continued partnership with the National Weather Service to promote and recognize SKYWARN and the volunteers around the country. We look forward to working together to revitalize and promote SKYWARN Recognition Day again next year,” said Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, ARRL Director of Emergency Management.

Established in 1999 by the National Weather Service and ARRL, SKYWARN Recognition Day celebrates the critical contributions SKYWARN volunteers make in supporting the NWS mission to protect life and property. Amateur radio operators constitute a significant portion of these volunteers, providing essential communication links between NWS and emergency management agencies when traditional communications fail.

The NWS-ARRL SRD National Committee extends its appreciation to all SKYWARN volunteers for their dedication and service to their communities, and offers best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public who are interested in becoming SKYWARN® storm spotters—and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills—must do so by watching the NWS WFO Grand Forks 2025 SKYWARN® Storm Spotter Training video.

⚠️ In-person SKYWARN® Storm Spotter training will not be conducted in 2025.

Training Video

ℹ️ Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about SKYWARN, and NWS contact information, are available on the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN page.

Spotter Registration and Updates

New SKYWARN® Storm Spotters—and current spotters who need to update their information—who are 16 years of age or older and in the NWS Grand Forks forecast area should visit the NWS Grand Forks Spotter Registration page to register as a spotter or update their information.

“This information will never be shared with anyone and is only used so the NWS can contact you in severe weather situations, or allow the NWS to easily plot your information when you report severe weather.”¹

About Spotter Training

This training video is about 80 minutes long and is available free of charge to all interested parties. Viewers will learn about:

• Identifying & reporting severe weather
• Spotter safety
• Severe weather climatology in ND/MN
• Thunderstorm structure and threats
• And more…

The instructors are NWS Meteorologists.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is on reporting severe local thunderstorms. In an average year the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts have given your family and neighbors the precious gift of time—minutes that can help save lives. ²

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

SKYWARN® Online

http://www.weather.gov/fgf/stormspotting

SKYWARN® Contact

nws.grandforks@noaa.gov

Join in recognizing all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation by participating in 2024 Skywarn™ Recognition Day (SRD 2024) from 0000Z to 2400Z on Saturday, December 7th.

Participants should use the SRD 2024 Registration Form to obtain their SRD number and are encouraged to plot their Spotter Location on the SRD 2024 Spotter Map.

SRD 2024 contact log submission may be completed through Google Forms or the Skywarn™ Recognition Day Facebook Page.

⚠️ The log submission deadline is January 31, 2025.

Event participation certificates will be available at the conclusion of Skywarn™ Recognition Day.

Event Resources

• Operating Procedures
• Participant and WFO Registration Lists
• SRD 2024 Contact Log Sheet (PDF)
• SRD 2024 NWS Office Contact Log Sheet—coming soon
• Social Media Planning Document (PDF)
• ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day page

About Skywarn™ Recognition Day

Skywarn™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation!

Be sure to follow your local NWS social media pages and other social media outlets for additional ways to participate in SRD 2024. ¹

Photos and event statistics from previous SKYWARN Recognition Days are available on the NWS Skywarn™ Recognition Day page

Anyone who is interested in SKYWARN® Stormspotter Training but is unable to attend RRRA’s in-person spotter training may be interested in the three virtual classes announced by NWS WFO Grand Forks.

These classes are open to the public and to groups; no registration required.

Join a class at the scheduled time through the NWS WFO Grand Forks SKYWARN page using either Google Meet or a telephone dial-in; a Google account is not needed for participation.

Class Dates & Times

• Thursday, April 18th - 1pm to 3pm
• Thursday, April 25th - 10am to 12pm
• Thursday, May 2nd - 6pm to 8pm

⚠️ These classes are subject to change. Attendees are urged to confirm the class dates and times on the 2024 Spotter Training Schedule

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public who are interested in becoming SKYWARN® storm spotters—and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills—are encouraged to save the date for Advanced Skywarn Spotter Training which will be presented at 6PM on April 16, 2024, at the City of Fargo Public Safety Building.

Information about other regional training opportunities, answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about SKYWARN, and NWS contact information, is available on the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN page.

About Spotter Training

These multimedia spotter training presentations run 60 to 90 minutes in length, are open to the public, and are free of charge. Participants will learn about:

• Identifying & reporting severe weather
• Spotter safety
• Severe weather climatology in ND/MN
• Thunderstorm structure and threats
• And more…

The instructors are NWS Meteorologists.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is on reporting severe local thunderstorms. In an average year the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts have given your family and neighbors the precious gift of time—minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

SKYWARN® Online

http://www.weather.gov/fgf/stormspotting

SKYWARN® Contact

nws.grandforks@noaa.gov

Join in recognizing all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation by participating in 2023 Skywarn™ Recognition Day (SRD 2023) from 0000Z to 2400Z on Saturday, December 2nd (CST: 6PM December 1st to 6PM December 2nd)

Participants should use the SRD 2023 Registration Form to obtain their SRD number and are encouraged to plot their Spotter Location on the SRD 2023 Spotter Map.

SRD 2023 contact log submission may be completed through Google Forms or the Skywarn™ Recognition Day Facebook Page.

⚠️ The log submission deadline is January 31, 2024.

Event participation certificates will be available at the conclusion of Skywarn™ Recognition Day.

Event Resources

• Operating Procedures
• Participant and WFO Registration Lists
• SRD 2023 Contact Log Sheet (PDF)
• SRD 2023 NWS Office Contact Log Sheet (PDF)
• ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day page

About Skywarn™ Recognition Day

Skywarn™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.

Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn&trade spotters serving our nation! ¹

Photos and event statistics from previous SKYWARN Recognition Days are available on the NWS Skywarn™ Recognition Day page

The RRRA May Meeting is your opportunity to become a SKYWARN® Spotter or refresh your training for 2023.

Participate in a timely and interesting class and enjoy some eyeball QSOs; no club business will be be discusssed at this meeting!

More information about this class—including resource links—is available on the Fargo SKYWARN Class page and the RRRA May Meeting page.

Please direct all questions about this class to .

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters—and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills—are encouraged to save the date for one of the three in-person training opportunities to be offered in the Fargo/Moorhead area.

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service, last about 2 1/2 hours, and are open to the public. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required for the in-person classes; seating may be limited.

Information about other regional training opportunities, answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about SKYWARN, supplemental resources, and NWS contact information, are available on the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN page.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN® page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

Grand Forks SKYWARN® Online

http://www.weather.gov/fgf/stormspotting

Grand Forks SKYWARN® Contact

nws.grandforks@noaa.gov

Join in recognizing all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation by participating in 2022 Skywarn™ Recognition Day (SRD 2022) from 0000Z to 2400Z on Saturday, December 3rd.

Participants should use the SRD 2022 Registration Form to obtain their SRD number and are encouraged to plot their Spotter Location on the SRD 2022 Spotter Map.

SRD 2022 contact log submission may be completed through Google Forms or the Skywarn™ Recognition Day Facebook Page.

The log submission deadline is January 31, 2023.

Event participation certificates will be available at the conclusion of Skywarn™ Recognition Day.

Event Resources

• Operating Procedures
• Participant and WFO Registration Lists
• SRD 2022 Contact Log Sheet (PDF)
• SRD 2022 NWS Office Contact Log Sheet (PDF)
• ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day page

About Skywarn™ Recognition Day

Skywarn™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.

Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn&trade spotters serving our nation! ¹

Photos and event statistics from previous SKYWARN Recognition Days are available on the NWS Skywarn™ Recognition Day page

The May 12th in-person Fargo Skywarn Class has been marked as postponed on the NWS WFO Grand Forks Skywarn calendar.

Individuals who were planning to attend this session should consult the Public Service Dates index for other training opportunities.

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters—and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills—are encouraged to save the date for one of the three in-person training opportunities to be offered in the Fargo/Moorhead area, or one of 5 virtual quick refreshers, during 2022.

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Servic, last about 2 1/2 hours, and are open to the public. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required for the in-person classes; seating may be limited.

Registration is required for the virtual classes. Please follow the registration instructions on the virtual quick refresher pages.

Information about other regional training opportunities, answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about SKYWARN, and NWS contact information, is available on the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN page.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

SKYWARN® Online

http://www.weather.gov/fgf/skywarn

SKYWARN® Contact

Gregory.Gust@noaa.gov

National Weather Service SKYWARN training through Spring of 2021 will be virtual only—consisting of on-line content with a real instructor—and will be presented through the GoToWebinar on-line events platform.

Classes—through the end of April—will be offered:

• Monday evenings (7–8PM)
• Tuesday afternoons (2–3PM)

These classes are free of charge and open to the public.

Anyone interested in attending one of these classes must register on-line.

April 2021 Virtual Class Sign-up

1. Visit the SkyWarn Refresher Registration page
2. Complete the registration form. If more than one person will be watching, you don’t need to register more than once - we’ll send an email about how to register as a spotter and get your certificate after the class
3. Once registered, you will receive an email with a link to join. Before the class, please visit the GoToWebinar System Check and try a test session to make sure your computer, tablet, or smartphone is ready to attend the class! If you do not have a strong internet connection, you will have the option to call in by phone to listen to the audio ¹

Year Round On-line Classes

1. Role of the SkyWarn Spotter
2. SkyWarn Spotter Convective Basics
3. SkyWarn Spotter Training

Participants must create a free MetEd user account before taking these courses

About MetEd

The MetEd website provides education and training resources to benefit the operational forecaster community, university atmospheric scientists and students, and anyone interested in learning more about meteorology, weather forecasting, and related geoscience topics. MetEd is populated and maintained by the COMET® Program, which is part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s (UCAR’s) Community Programs (UCP). The MetEd website is made possible by the sponsors of the COMET® Program. ²

Resources

• Reference material for knowledge and safety
• Spotter Reference Guide 1
• Spotter Reference Guide 2
• Hail Size Chart
• FEMA - Building A Safe Room
• Scijinks - it’s all about weather for kids of all ages
• Jetstream - an online school for weather

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is SKYWARN?

Skywarn (formed in the early 1970s) is the National Weather Service (NWS) program of volunteer severe weather spotters. Skywarn volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of approaching severe weather. The focus of Skywarn (and of the NWS) is simple…to save lives and property.

Since the mid 1990s, the WSR-88D (Doppler Weather Radar) has provided valuable information to area forecasters…with better detection of severe storm phenomena and more accurate and timely warnings. However, even with the advance in technology… “ground truth” is still a very important part of the warning process. “Ground truth” is what is actually occurring. Is the storm tornadic? Is it producing large hail? How about damaging winds? Most of the “ground truth” is provided by trained storm spotters (through Skywarn)…or the “eyes of the NWS.”

Who Are SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotters?

SKYWARN spotters across North Dakota and Minnesota consist mainly of amateur radio operators, emergency response officials, and trained public responders. The vast majority of those involved are volunteers who provide this valuable public service. These Spotters donate their time and equipment to help us (the NWS) get warnings out to the public, and to get public reports of severe weather back to the NWS …by any means possible.

Spotters are generally self-activating… meaning they pay attention to the latest Forecast, Convective Outlook, and Watch or Warning… then they observe and report on the occurrence of severe weather from wherever they may be located.

How can I get involved?

Every year the National Weather Service in Grand Forks conducts both “basic” and “advanced” spotter training classes. Individuals are taught the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, what constitutes severe weather, and how to report this information. Advanced classes consider more extreme storm features to look for and where to find them. Additional information on reporting and basic severe weather safety are also covered.

Each class, Basic and Advanced, is a multi-media presentation which includes detailed video. Classes are typically scheduled back-to-back on the same evening. Each class typically takes around 70 minutes, with about a 15 minute break for questions and refreshments. New Spotters are encouraged to attend the Basic Class while veteran Spotters may chose to attend the Advanced Class.

Class schedules are published on the Skywarn, NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page

SKYWARN Contact: Greg Gust, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NWS WFO Grand Forks

Current SKYWARN® Weather Spotters, and those interested in joining the programme, may wish to take advantage of the on-line resources available through the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office Grand Forks, ND SKYWARN page.

These resources are especially valuable during a time when Social Distancing guidelines prevent the presentation of in-person classes.

• Role of the SKYWARN® Spotter
• SKYWARN® Spotter Convective Basics
• NOAA Weather Spotter’s Field Guide (PDF)

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters; and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills; are encouraged to save the date for one of the three training opportunities to be offered in the Fargo/Moorhead area during 2020.

• Sabin - Monday, March 23
• RRRMC - Thursday, April 16
• West Fargo - Wednesday, May 18

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service and last about 2 1/2 hours. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required and seating may be limited. These classes are open to the public.

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to find other regional training opportunities.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

The NWS Forecast Office Grand Forks, ND will be participating in 2019 SKYWARN™ Recognition Day from 0000Z to 2400Z on Saturday, December 7th.

Event details, including the suggested exchange, are available on the ARRL 2019 SKYWARN Recognition Day page.

About SKYWARN Recognition Day

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property. Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the SKYWARN volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative. During the SKYWARN Special Event operators will visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world.¹

Event certificates will be electronic and printable after the conclusion of SKYWARN Recognition Day.

Photos and event statistics from previous SKYWARN Recognition Days are available on the NWS SkyWarn Recognition Day page

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters; and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills; are encouraged to save the date for one of the three training opportunities to be offered in the Fargo/Moorhead area during 2019.

• Fargo - Tuesday, April 9
• Sabin - Monday, April 22
• West Fargo - Wednesday, May 8

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service and last about 2 1/2 hours. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required and seating may be limited. These classes are open to the public.

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to find other regional training opportunities.

About SKYWARN®

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

There are now two SKYWARN® training opportunities scheduled in the Fargo/Moorhead area during 2018:

• Fargo - Tuesday, April 3
• Sabin - Monday, March 12

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service and last about 2 1/2 hours. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required and seating may be limited. These classes are open to the public.

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to find other regional training opportunities.

About SKYWARN®

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters; and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills; are encouraged to save the date for a training opportunity on Monday, March 12, in Sabin, MN

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service and last about 2 1/2 hours. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required and seating may be limited. These classes are open to the public.

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to find other regional training opportunities.

About SKYWARN®

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. ¹

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

#SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 2 https://t.co/MhbEvs52Is #ARRL #HamRadio pic.twitter.com/nOVRVySkNf

— ARRL (@arrl) November 6, 2017

Those who were unable to attend the Fargo and Sabin SKYWARN® classes may wish to visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to learn about other 2017 Spotter Training Sessions in the Red River Valley.

SKYWARN® spotters who were unable to attend any classes, and anyone who would like to review the training material, may wish to take these free online courses:

• Role of the SKYWARN® Spotter
• SKYWARN® Spotter Convective Basics

The Weather Spotter’s Field Guide (PDF) is available from the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page and the RRRA Files and Links page.

First Responders, Amateur Radio Operators, and members of the public interested in becoming SKYWARN® weather spotters; and current spotters who wish to refresh their skills; are encouraged to save the date for one of the two training opportunities offered in the Fargo/Moorhead area in March 2017.

• Fargo - Tuesday, March 28
• Sabin - Monday, March 27

These free classes are presented by the National Weather Service and last about 2 1/2 hours. Participants will learn about:

• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety

No registration is required and seating may be limited. These classes are open to the public.

Please visit the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page to find other regional training opportunities.

About SKYWARN®

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

SKYWARN® storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives. [ 1 ]

Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions About SKYWARN® section of the NWS WFO Grand Forks, ND page for more information about SKYWARN®.

SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo are available on-line.

Footnotes

[ 1 ] “What is SKYWARN®?”, National Weather Service , retrieved February 7 2017, http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/.

The NWS Forecast Office Grand Forks, ND will be participating in 2016 SKYWARN™ Recognition Day, using the call-sign N0GF, from 0000Z to 2400Z on Saturday, December 3rd.

Contacts may be made on:

• HF: 80, 40, 20, 15, & 10m
• VHF: 6 & 2m (repeater contacts are permitted)
• UHF: 70cm
• EchoLink: N0GF node

Using these modes:

• SSB
• CW
• PSK
• FM
• EchoLink

The suggested exchange is: call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two word description of the weather occurring at your site (“sunny”, “partly cloudy”, “windy”, etc.). [ 1 ]

Please QSL to:

About SKYWARN Recognition Day

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property. Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the SKYWARN volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative. During the SKYWARN Special Event operators will visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world. [ 2 ]

Event certificates will be electronic and printable after the conclusion of SKYWARN Recognition Day.

Photos and event statistics from previous SKYWARN Recognition Days are available on the NWS SkyWarn Recognition Day page

Please visit the ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day page for operating instructions and links to SKYWARN Recognition Day resources.

Footnotes

[ 1 ] “SKYWARN Recognition Day”, ARRL The national association for Amateur Radio, accessed November 26 2016, http://www.arrl.org/skywarn-recognition-day.

[ 2 ] “SKYWARN Recognition Day”, National Weather Service, accessed November 15 2016, http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio/.

Red River Radio Amateurs will be sponsoring its 2016 Skywarn Class on Tuesday, March 29th . It will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Cass County Annex at 1010 2nd Ave. S, in Fargo, ND.

The Skywarn class will be presented by the National Weather Service for amateur radio operators and personnel from public safety agencies, and is open to the public, for anyone interested in being a storm spotter. It will cover all the basics of storm spotting and will also be a good refresher course for existing spotters.

Please contact for more information.

Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Rescue Squads, and Ham Radio Operators are invited to a Skywarn Refresher at Sabin Elmwood Fire District Headquarters, 120 Main Street Sabin, MN 56580, from 1830 to 2100 on Monday April 25, 2016

The class is presented by the National Weather Service and is sponsored by Clay County Emergency Services, Clay Co. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (CCARES), and the Sabin-Elmwood Fire District.

Please contact for more information.