SKYWARN Activation:

When the NWS issues certain Watches or Warnings, the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) Tone-Alert will make an audible sound. The NWR Tone-Alert serves as the basis to automatically activate SKYWARN. On occasion, severe weather conditions might occur without SKYWARN having already been activated.

The Upton NWS office has an Amateur Radio station in the office that will be staffed during more widespread or significant hazardous weather. The Upton Amateur Radio Station currently includes 2 2-meter radios (144-147 mHz), a 70-centimeter radio (440-449 mHz), and a 6-meter (50-54 mHz) radio. Amateur radio station staffing will usually coincide with the issuance of the following watches and/or warnings:

Watches: Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, and Flash Flood
Warnings: Blizzard, Tropical Storm, Hurricane and Coastal Flood Warnings

The duty Lead Forecaster will make the decision whether amateur radio staffing is required or not on a case-by-case basis, usually dependent on how widespread or life-threatening the situation is. The duty Lead Forecaster may also decide to request SKYWARN activation by county, region or area based on the perceived weather threat(s) of the day.

How Can You Determine if SKYWARN is Likely to be Activated?

NWS Forecasts are readily available on NOAA Weather Radio and on the Internet (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx). Check the links for the various Forecast Products or click on the forecast map on the front page to get the forecast for your specific area.

Coming soon...You can also check out the "Weather Briefing" links from the SKYWARN Homepage for much of this information.

During the summer, there may or may not be much advance activation warning. However, there are certain key words to watch for in the daily forecasts. Anytime a forecast mentions thunderstorms with additional wording such as "hail" and "strong gusty winds," the forecasters are entertaining the possibility of severe weather. This should have the prudent SKYWARN observer thinking and keeping an ear to their local repeater or NOAA Weather Radio for possible activations.

Severe thunderstorm and tornado watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma. SPC monitors real-time weather data from many sources and issues watches when conditions are favorable for severe weather in a given area. Usually, these alerts provide a few hours of advance notice and are frequently the basis for activating SKYWARN.

Page last updated March 17, 2003