|
|
|
|
Polk County SKYWARN
WHAT
IS SKYWARN?
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service (NWS) program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. SKYWARN Spotters support the local community and government by providing the NWS and the local Office of Emergency Management (PCOEM) with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens.
Despite new NEXRAD radar system and new computer forecasting models at the National Weather Service, they are only able to determine the potential for severe weather. The parent circulation that potentially develops many tornadoes is now detectible by radar. However, many other tornadoes cannot be detected by radar especially at a distance and confirmations of actual tornadoes require an eyewitness. The NWS relies on reports from the public and law enforcement personnel and actual severe weather.
Accurate and reliable information from the general public is difficult to obtain. Severe weather is complicated and confusing. The NWS has found that only regular training of weather spotters improves the quality of information. Spotters include public safety personnel such as firemen, law enforcement, volunteer citizens with public safety radios or access to a phone, citizen band radio operators and licensed Amateur Radio Operators.
The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office has been recruiting and training spotters into its expanded network since 1992. We currently have about 250 active volunteers who cover the 1100 sq. miles in Polk County.
WHO ARE OUR SPOTTERS?
Our volunteers are people who either have a strong interest in weather or are public service oriented such as amateur radio operators, or emergency response personnel. Our spotters are all ages beginning as young as 14 and range well into retirement age. We have farmers, pilots, engineers, housewives, lawyers, television cameramen, teachers, TDCJ guards students, firemen, and more. Our volunteers are truly diverse but with a common interest in weather and a strong desire to help their community.
HOW DOES SKYWARN WORK?
When hazardous weather occurs such as severe thunderstorms, floods, tornadoes and ice storms, our volunteers report what is happening at their location. They are asked to report whenever certain criteria are met such as when one inch of rain has fallen, four inches of snow is on the ground, a thunderstorm is producing hail, or trees have been blown down. Reports arrive at our office via the telephone, fax, Internet, and amateur radio. The reports are combined with radar and satellite data to determine what the storms will do next. Spotters provide the "ground-truth" to our forecasters. Radar may tell us that heavy rain is falling, but it can not tell us how much is on the ground, Our Spotters do. The reports are used by forecasters to send out public statements, warnings and advisories, and short-term forecasts. These products reach the public through the Internet, NOAA Weather Radio, the media and other commercial services. SkyWarn reports also go into Storm Data, which is an official publication that documents severe weather across the country. Storm Data can be used to create a severe weather climatology (or history) of a local county or city. Storm Data is published (electronic and hard copy versions) by the National Climatic Data Center.
NOTE: For the past two years we have been telling the citizens of our County that a NOAA Weather Station would soon be a reality in Polk County. FYI: we have ordered the equipment and are waiting for the manufacturer to produce the equipment. WE are on a waiting list and have been for quite some time, however I am told the equipment should arrive sometime in mid to late November. The tower is up (Thanks to SHECO) and is ready to install the new weather transmitter equipment. I look forward to getting this project complete and having NOAA Weather Radio Operational in Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Trinity Counties.
HOW DOES THE SKYWARN AMATEUR RADIO NET WORK?
Two-thirds of our volunteers are licensed amateur radio operators. Amateur radio plays a big role in the SKYWARN program. During severe weather, amateur radio volunteers man a radio station at our office. They talk to our spotters in the particular area that a storm is hitting and request information needed by the forecasters such as hail size or rainfall accumulation. Large storms such as hurricanes can knock out phone service. SKYWARN Amateur radio volunteers help us when there are communications outages so that we can continue to receive weather reports and feed warnings and other critical information out to communities.
SKYWARN spotters contribute many of hours and the use of their own personal radio equipment and vehicles to give their communities advanced warning of life threatening weather. Since the NWS instituted the SKYWARN Program, there has been a significant decrease in the death rate due to tornadoes and other severe weather.
As an emergency communicator, each volunteer is tasked with being a part of the organization and contributing to the program for the benefit of ALL citizens of Polk County. For additional information or if you are interested in the SkyWarn program, you may contact Kenneth F. Hambrick emcpolk@livingston.net or Don Northrup k5scr@samlink.com .
Don Northrup
Polk County SkyWarn Coordinator