SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).  It celebrates the invaluable contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the NWS, and ultimately, to the general public during significant weather events.

This year, SKYWARN Recognition Day was held on Friday and Saturday, 1-2 December, 2006 at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Lubbock, TX. A portion of our dedicated SKYWARN team members joined with some of our WFO amateur radio operators to lead efforts in communicating (QSO) with nearly 66 contacts from across the country – including over 24 contacts with amateur radio/SKYWARN enthusiasts at fellow NWS Weather Forecast Offices.  This number was down a bit from the previous year, likely due to the fact that a number of NWS offices canceled the event due to the snowstorm that had recently impacted their area.

The SKYWARN team working in partnership with WFO Lubbock is unique in that members of the team also comprise the South Plains Storm Spotting Team (SPSST), led by Kendall Stanaland (WX5EMT), SPSST President. The SPSST serves a critical role in providing real-time/ground-truth information directly to the NWS when severe weather threatens the area.  Amateur radio operators also serve in times of need to provide a means of communication during natural and/or man-made disasters.

The following photographs were taken at the NWS in Lubbock during the 2006 SKYWARN Recognition Day: