What is SKYWARNTM?
SKYWARNTM is a nationwide network of volunteer weather
spotters who report hazardous weather to local National Weather
Service (NWS) offices. Amateur radio operators and weather observers,
generally operating through local organizations, are ideally equipped
to contribute to the SKYWARNTM program. However, the general public
is also an integral part of this program.
These volunteers are trained by NWS personnel
to recognize features associated with rapidly developing, mature,
and dissipating thunderstorms which cause hazardous weather. SKYWARNTM
spotters also provide reports of heavy snow, heavy rain and flooding.
Spotters provide ground truth on the atmosphere
that we observe from radar, satellites and various reporting stations.
They are our eyes and ears, helping to provide better forecasts
and warnings to the Tri-State Region.
How do I Learn About the National
Weather Service (NWS)
SKYWARNTM
Program?
If you'd like to learn about the role of a volunteer Skywarn
spotter that observes and reports all-weather hazards, please
visit this MetEd (Meteorological Education) course,
Role of the Skywarn Spotter
Your name will be sent to our NWS Headquarters Office in Silver
Spring, and then sent to our local NWS New York, NY Office,
indicating your interest in the Skywarn Program.
How do I become a Certified
SKYWARNTM
Spotter?
You will need to participate in one free class that will be
scheduled during the spring months from March through June.
For a class near you, the class schedule will be posted
on this web page in March.
This year, our NWS office will also be offering online spotter
classes.
Following completion of this one-time free class, you will be
formally assigned a Spotter Identification number at the class,
and then added to our NWS Skywarn data base.
If you need to review a basic understanding of convective
storms, which was covered in the class, you may complete the
Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics training module at this web
page:
Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics
Training from the MetEd web page is free.
Please remember that you need to participate in a Skywarn
class hosted by our NWS office to earn certification and a
Spotter ID Card.
weather.gov 
