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Announcements
The winter issue of The Coastal Front, Vol-II-4 is out and can be downloaded here. The 7 page newsletter features articles on hurricane Irene, atmosphereic circulations, a fall weather recap and on winter driving. There is also an article on NWS Gray on facebook. Check out the picuture of Tom, N1KTA that has been posted here. Back issues of the newsletter may be found here.
Skywarn Recognition Day 2011 crew. Left to right Ken N1DOT, Brian KB1OBD, Tom N1KTA and Jerry K1WTX. Download the contact list here.
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.
A new 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 e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your Snow and Storm Spotter Coordinator This e-mail 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.