A Brief History of the SKYWARN Program
(Courtesy NWS Headquarters)

How the program began:

During 1942 and 1943, the Weather Bureau cooperated with the military in setting up volunteer storm spotter networks to protect military installations and recognized the value of first hand, real time information. The primary concern was for lightning near ordnance plants, but the program grew substantially during the war, and the spotter mission expanded to include other hazardous weather, including tornadoes. After WWII, spotter networks were maintained for military installations.

On May 25, 1955, a tornado in Udall, Kansas killed 80 people and injured 273. The NWS decided to train severe weather spotters to provide real time data. The NWS decided to recruit severe weather spotters to help obtain real time severe weather information in order to help extend lead time and increase accuracy of severe weather forecasts. On March 8, 1959, the NWS held the first training course in Wellington, Kansas for 225 severe weather spotters.

In 1965, the Natural Disaster Warning System (NADWARN) was established to coordinate the natural disaster-related emergency functions of various Federal agencies. A special, tornado-specific plan called SKYWARN was created, under the guidance of the National Weather Service.

The SKYWARN Program today:

SKYWARN consists of a network of all-hazard weather spotters (not just tornadoes). NWS has over 235,000 trained all-hazard weather spotters in the SKYWARN program. These spotters work with the Warning Coordination Meteorologists (WCMs) at the 122 NWS offices throughout the United States. Some WFOs offer additional classes in winter storm watch, hurricane watch, floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes, use of radar, and amateur radio networking.

The Tri-State Skywarn Group:

The Tri-State Skywarn Group serves the NWS Upton County Warning Area, and currently numbers over 2100 trained spotters.

Basic and Advanced level training classes are offered across the region, typically during the late winter and spring months.

Page last updated April 19, 2005