How to join SKYWARN™

The primary way to become a certified SKYWARN™ storm spotter is to take our local on-line SKYWARN™ training, which can be found by clicking here. This comprehensive training will introduce you to the program and cover a variety of severe weather topics with specific emphasis on northeast weather. After completing the program and taking the short test we'll contact you and enter your information into our system. The training lasts approximately 2 hours.

An alternative method is by attending one of our on-site SKYWARN™ training sessions. Just contact our SKYWARN™ program leader John Goff at john.goff@noaa.gov, or our Warning Coordination Meteorologist Scott Whittier at scott.whittier@noaa.gov for details. If you would like to set up a talk, here are the general requirements.

For a complementary additional training, you may also visit the COMET website which offers SKYWARN™ training on a more national perspective, but you must complete one of the two steps described above to become a certified spotter for the NWS in Burlington, VT.

The spotter network is usually activated whenever there is a threat of severe or hazardous weather. Usually, this preceded by the issuance of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Tornado Watch.

SKYWARN™ reports can be relayed from your location to the National Weather Service via volunteer ham radio, by calling our toll free SKYWARN™ weather spotter telephone number (provided to you when you join). An on-line storm report off our webpage is also available, or you may post through our local Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Burlington.gov.