National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
NWS Wilmington Spotter Page
Submit a Spotter Report
 
Reporting Methods
  • Phone
    • All urgent reports should be called in to the NWS via telephone.
    • Please use the unlisted weather spotter phone number, as provided by the NWS on the local spotter guide.
  • Amateur Radio
    • Amateur radio operators are welcome to submit reports to the sectional networks that serve the NWS in Wilmington.
    • Please use the procedures described on the amateur radio page.
  • Social Media
    • Reports, pictures, and video can be submitted through our social media accounts at Facebook and Twitter.
  • Email
    • Storm photographs or videos (or links to media) can be sent to the spotreport.iln@noaa.gov email address.
    • In order for the NWS to use these items online and in training materials, you must agree to release the media to the public domain.
What to Report
Severe Weather Flooding and Rainfall Winter Weather
  • Tornadoes, funnel clouds, wall clouds, and persistent cloud rotation.
  • Structural damage from tornadoes or severe wind gusts.
  • Any trees uprooted or downed.
  • Multiple large healthy limbs downed (at least 3" in diameter).
  • Hail of 1/2" diameter or larger.
  • Hail covering the ground.
  • Do not report lightning.
  • 1" or more of rainfall in one hour or less (measured).
  • Flooding that results in evacuations or rescues.
  • Cars or trailers carried away by flood waters.
  • Water entering the main level of homes or businesses.
  • Roads closed or impassable due to high water.
  • Rapidly rushing water across roadways.
  • More than one foot of water across roads.
  • Small streams overflowing their banks.
  • 1" or more of snow per hour.
  • 1" or more of snow in the past 24 hours.
  • When first measuring 2", 4", or 6" of snow.
  • Storm total snowfall and snow depth.
  • Any freezing rain or freezing drizzle.
  • Any thunder or lightning associated with winter precipitation.
Include the following in your report:
  • Your name and spotter ID.
  • Your exact location.
    • 5 miles west of City A, or...
    • Near the intersection of Route X and Road Y, or...
    • Latitude and longitude coordinates.
    • If observing a cloud feature, in what direction are you looking?
  • Exact time of the event.
    • If ongoing or lengthy, provide a start/end time.
  • The weather event.