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SkywarnTM Introduction Page
(Index)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2007

 

  • The Basic training will focus on weather safety, thunderstorm formation, severe weather cloud identification, and reporting.
  • The Advanced training will feature a discussion on sea breeze fronts, lightning patterns, visualizing instability, and hurricanes.
  • The Marine Weather Spotter Training will feature a discussion of sea breeze fronts, lightning patterns, thunderstorm formation, cloud identification, and how to get your reports back to the NWS. The training is about developing a relationship between the NWS and mariners to provide the best possible forecasts and warnings so our marine community can make informed decisions regarding their safety and the safety of their families or guests.

 

 

  • As of November 17, 2007
  • Number of SkywarnTM Spotters = 3,345
  • Number who are Amateur Radio Operators = 791
  • NWS Ruskin trained in 12 months = 801

 
National Weather Service Ruskin SkywarnTM
WX4TOR

    The National Weather Service in Ruskin, Florida, is currently in the process of renewing and revitalizing the amateur (ham) radio portion of the SkywarnTM program for its county warning area (CWA). Our goal is to improve the effectiveness and utility of the program as well as reinvigorate cooperation among all those involved. SkywarnTM is the "eyes and ears" of the NWS. Amateur radio participation in this program is vital to successful communication of the threat posed by natural hazards. Ham radio operators are partners in our mission to protect life and property.

    The NWS Ruskin will now handle the day to day or routine operations of the ham radio portion of SkywarnTM. In particular, Nick Petro is a senior forecaster with the NWS Ruskin and a ham operator. He will manage this portion of the SkywarnTM program. Many changes have been implemented so far, including the formation of the NWS Ruskin SkywarnTM Association, which is run by Nick at the NWS Ruskin. The ham station at the NWS Ruskin has a new call sign, WX4TOR, and Nick is the trustee of this call sign. Either Nick or those from the volunteer group that he is organizing, will now be running the WX4TOR activation nets and Tuesday night net meetings that operate on the N-I-4-C-E repeater system. Speaking of volunteers, Nick is asking for volunteers who would like to operate the WX4TOR station when requested. If interested, please contact Nick by e-mail at nicholas.petro@noaa.gov.

    There have been many questions recently regarding the structure of the local SkywarnTM nets. We recognize that many of the counties in our CWA operate their own SkywarnTM nets, operate these nets on their own repeaters, and have their own net control operators. While at the same time, a SkywarnTM net has been operating on the N-I-4-C-E repeater system that covers most of West Central Florida. Under the new NWS Ruskin management of the SkywarnTM program, we will continue to operate under this two-tiered structure. The first tier of the program will consist of the wide area SkywarnTM net, now managed directly by the NWS Ruskin and operated on the N-I-4-C-E repeater system. The second tier will consist of the local county-run SkywarnTM nets. The wide area net will activate during large scale weather events, such as large area convective watches and for tropical cyclone events. During these events, the wide area net will be available to take SkywarnTM reports from any spotter who would like to relay the report directly to the NWS. These reports can be from spotters who are traveling through or live in an area that does not have a locally run SkywarnTM net, or from county-level net control operators who would like to forward their reports to the NWS. The second tier will consist of the individual county-run SkywarnTM nets. The renewal of our SkywarnTM program does not change this aspect of the program. We will continue to work with numerous county-run nets in our CWA, and we urge the control operators of these nets to make every effort to pass along all reports to the NWS in the most expeditious way possible. The existence of the individual county or locally run nets can be effective as long as the spotter reports do indeed get transmitted to the NWS, and in a timely manner.

    In summary, during large scale weather events the NWS-run wide area net will be activated to take reports. This wide area net will be operated on the N-I-4-C-E repeater system, and the NWS thanks the West Central Florida Group Inc for the use of the repeater system for this life saving mission.

    Although we're in a period of some change with regard to the NWS Ruskin SkywarnTM program, one thing remains unchanged, and that is that the National Weather Service needs you to be its "eyes and ears". We thank all of our SkywarnTM spotters and volunteers for their commitment to this program, their fellow citizens and our life saving mission.

    The NWS Ruskin SkywarnTM amateur radio nets are comprised of a primary wide area SkywarnTM net, and associate county level SkywarnTM nets that operate independenty of each other.

    The wide area net will activate for large weather events, such as severe thunderstorm or tornado watches, and for tropical cyclone events. When the wide area net activates, the net will be conducted by a net control operator located at the NWS office in Ruskin, and will utilize the WX4TOR station and callsign. Severe weather reports can be relayed directly to the NWS via the wide area net.

    The invidual county level nets may operate for any severe weather event, large or small, and can activate separately from the wide area net. This is particularly useful when isolated severe weather is expected or is occurring in a small area. These nets are conducted independently either by county appointed officials, Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers, groups of amateur radio operators, or clubs. Since these county level nets do not operate from the NWS office, they will relay severe weather reports to the NWS via the NWS Ruskin 800 number.

    There may be times when both the wide area and local county level nets are activated. Spotters should relay reports to the SkywarnTM net they are most familiar with, or the net which allows them the best means of communication. During these situations, the wide area SkywarnTM net should be utilized by spotters who are in an area not covered by a local net, by spotters who wish to relay reports directly to the NWS, and by net control operators of the local nets to relay their reports to the NWS.

    Below is a list of SkywarnTM frequecies for the NWS Ruskin county warning area.
NWS Ruskin Wide Area SkywarnTM net frequencies,
operated on the NI4CE linked repeater system.
This linked system covers most of west central Florida.
County Location Frequency Alt. Frequency
Polk Pebbledale 442.825+ (100.0)  
Pasco Port Richey 442.650+ (100.0)  
Hillsborough Riverview 442.550+ (100.0)  
Pinellas St. Petersburg 145.290+ (100.0) 443.450+ (100.0)
Manatee Verna 145.430+ (100.0) 442.950+ (100.0)
County level SkywarnTM net frequencies
County Primary Secondary Other
Charlotte 146.745- 147.255+  
Desoto 147.075+ 147.180+ 147.075+
Hardee 146.625- (127.3) 146.625- (127.3)  
Highlands 147.270+ 147.045+  
Hillsborough 147.105+ (146.2) 146.940- (127.3) 147.105+ (146.2)
Manatee 146.820+(100.0) 147.195+ (100.0) 442.125+ (100.0), 443.225+ (100.0), 443.225+ (100.0)
Pasco 146.640- 145.330-  
Pinellas 145.170- (156.7) 442.400+ (156.7) 442.800+ (156.7), 443.400+ (156.7)
Polk 146.985- (127.3) 146.655- (127.3) 146.550 (S), 146.580 (S), 444.950+ (127.3)
146.655- (127.3)
Sarasota 146.730-(100) 147.390+ 145.130- (south), 443.550+ 146.730-(100)
  • Linked System
    • 147.030+ (103.5)
    • 147.030+ (156.7)
    • 147.030+ (192.8)
    • 146.790- (146.2)
    • 442.350+ (146.2)
    • 442.850+ (146.2)
  • Note: Pinellas will eventually change to 145.170 P.L. 156.7 Hz / 442.400, 442.800, 443.400 P.L. 156.7 Hz Linked System

 

Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, as well as an average of 6 deadly hurricanes. Some 90% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $14 billion in damage. 

What can you do to help protect yourself, your family, and neighbors? Consider becoming a trained SkywarnTM Spotter. A trained spotter knows the weather threats in Florida, safety rules, and visual clues regarding thunderstorm strength. You can attend the training even if you do not want to be an official spotter.

SkywarnTM is a program sponsored by your National Weather Service (NWS) consisting of trained weather spotters who provide reports of severe and hazardous weather to help in the warning process. SkywarnTM spotter reports provide vital "ground truth" to the NWS. The reports serve the NWS mission of protecting life and property in 3 ways: assist in present and future warning decisions, confirm hazardous weather detected by NWS radar, and provide verification information which can be used for future research efforts. SkywarnTM is a volunteer public service for those 18 years or older. Each year our Spotters donate their time and/or equipment to help the NWS issue severe weather warnings. 

Did You Know...

  • that storm spotters were first used during WWII to alert the military artillery plants of approaching lightning? 
  • that after WWII spotter networks were maintained for military installations? 
  • that after the May 25, 1955 tornado in Udall, KS killed 80 people, the NWS decided to train their own severe weather spotters? 
  • that the first spotter training course was held March 8, 1959 in Wellington, KS for 225 weather spotters? 
  • that the SkywarnTM program was officially created in 1965?