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About SKYWARN	Training Schedule	Training Certificates	Submit Report	More Resources

What is SKYWARN®?

A picture of a storm approaching NWS Fort Worth with a large shelf cloud. The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations.

A picture of Amateur Radio operators working HAM radios at NWS Fort Worth. SKYWARN® is a citizen volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. SKYWARN® storm spotters are citizens who form the nation's first line of defense against severe weather. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. Storm spotters play a critical role because they can see things that radar and other technological tools cannot, and this ground truth is critical in helping the NWS perform our primary mission, to save lives and property.

For more information, visit the National Skywarn Spotter Page

The SKYWARN® Program at NWS Pittsburgh

Many people ask how they can become a member of SKYWARN. In most cases, SKYWARN isn't really something you join, but instead is a concept based on having citizen volunteers help their community and the NWS by observing and reporting hazardous weather occurring in their area. Anyone can be a storm spotter and submit reports directly to the NWS. Over half of our 1600+ spotters are also licensed amateur radio operators (a.k.a hams). The hams throughout many of our counties meet and organize their spotter efforts on one radio frequency (network or nets), when severe weather threatens. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) provides communication support for the SKYWARN™ program.

A picture of a SKYWARN class with attendees. Each year, NWS Pittsburgh conducts multiple SKYWARN classes within our coverage area of 35 counties in Western PA, Eastern OH, and Northern WV. These classes are usually held in the late winter and early spring, before the spring severe weather season. A listing of upcoming in-person and online SKYWARN classes can be found under the Training Schedule tab above. Each class is free and open to all ages. Some classes may have registration, so check the link on the Training Schedule page.

The SKYWARN presentation covers severe thunderstorm characteristics, cloud formations, identifying the different threats associated with severe storms, how to report, and basic weather safety. We strongly recommend everyone attend a SKYWARN presentation at least once every few years to refresh on these concepts. If needed, training certificates are provided at each class. We do not issue Spotter IDs.

To register your info to be part of our Skywarn database, visit: Skywarn Registration

2025 Winter SKYWARN Classes Are Now Available!

Prepare for severe and winter weather with a free SKYWARN class from the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Conducted in partnership with local emergency management, these two-hour sessions are open to the public!
Registration is required for in-person classes, and optional, but encouraged for webinars.

Learn how to:

Stay safe during a storm
Identify key weather features
Properly report weather information

Winter 2025 SKYWARN Schedule

Type	Time	Date	Location	Address	Registration Link
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Basic Class

Advanced Class

Winter Class

Completed

Instructions for generating your SKYWARN™ certificate (in-person and online/virtual classes)

NOTE: These certificates are for SKYWARN classes conducted in Western PA, Eastern OH, and Northern WV only (covered by the NWS Pittsburgh office). You should have attended a recent NWS SKYWARN™ class in person or online conducted by a NWS Pittsburgh staff member.

Choose the appropriate option below based on the type of SKYWARN class you attended. Your certificate will be emailed to you with additional information.

Online Basic SKYWARN Quiz and Certificate

If you've taken the online/virtual variant of our Basic SKYWARN class (conducted via Facebook Live, Go-To Webinar, or recorded on Youtube), please take this quiz to receive your SKYWARN certificate.

Take Online Basic Quiz

All Other SKYWARN Certificates

For all other NWS Pittsburgh spotter classes (Online or In-Person Advanced, In-Person Basic, River Ice, etc.) please use this form to receive your SKYWARN certificate.
Password required.

Get Other Certificates

How do I register for PBZ's SKYWARN Database?

If you've taken a SKYWARN class, but haven't already registered for our SKYWARN Spotter Database, or you'd like to update your email address in our database, please register below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a member of SKYWARN?

In most cases, SKYWARN isn't really something you join, but instead is a concept of using volunteer storm spotters to provide critical information to local communities and to the NWS, and that's what has driven the storm spotter program since it began decades ago. Your community may have an organized storm spotter network that uses the name SKYWARN, and you should contact your local emergency manager to find out what formal spotter networks are in place near you, and how you might be able to get involved.

I took the online SKYWARN courses offered by COMET/Meted, does that qualify me as a local spotter for your office?

Yes, taking the national online courses qualifies you to report to our office as a trained SKYWARN spotter, but we ask that you please review our local presentation (linked below) to review our local storm trends, storm threats, reporting methods and reporting criteria. We also ask that you please attend one of our local SKYWARN classes when they are offered.

What is my spotter ID number? Do I get an ID card?

NWS Pittsburgh does not issue ID cards or spotter ID numbers.

Do I need an amateur radio license to be a storm spotter?

It depends on your community and how involved you want to be. You don't have to be an amateur radio operator to make a severe weather report, but many spotter networks are made up of dedicated amateur radio operators who use radio to coordinate their local network and to relay reports to the NWS. If you're interested in learning more about amateur radio, visit this site.

When are your SKYWARN classes?

We host multiple SKYWARN classes in the winter and early spring. You do not need to be a resident of the county the class is in to attend. A list of upcoming classes is continually updated, and the schedule can be found in the Training Schedule tab above.

Where do I register for a SKYWARN class?

Registration is required for some, but not all, in-person training. If registration is required, a registration link will appear in the table on our Training Schedule tab.

For virtual webinar classes, registration is required so a unique link can be emailed to you that allows you to join at the date and time of the webinar (class). All registration links for virtual SKYWARN classes can be found on our Training Schedule tab.

Registration is not required for classes conducted over Facebook Live.

What is presented at a SKYWARN Class?

The SKYWARN class covers topics related to severe thunderstorm characteristics, cloud formations, identifying the different threats associated with severe storms, how to report, and basic weather safety. The Saturday classes may also include additional presentations on weather, communication, radar and/or important local information. We strongly recommend everyone attend a SKYWARN presentation at least every few years..

What if I miss a SKYWARN class?

There are several options if you register for a class but are unable to attend:

Option 1: Visit the Training Schedule tab to find another date and time that you can potentially attend.

Option 2: Go to our YouTube Channel and watch the Basic SKYWARN playlist and follow the instructions within the description of each video for instructions on watching each video in the series and taking the online quiz certifying the completion of the course.

Option 3: Browse through this StoryMap to learn about the NWS, the basics of severe weather, and how to report storm damage.

How do I register for PBZ's SKYWARN Database?

If you've already taken a SKYWARN class, but haven't registered for our SKYWARN Spotter Database, or you'd like to update your email address in our database, please visit this form.