SKYWARN Program

NWS Melbourne SKYWARN Overview

One of the most important assets to the NWS warning, forecast, and verification process is the SKYWARN Spotter Network. NWS trained weather spotters provide real-time reports of tornadoes, hail, winds, flooding and hurricane damage. SKYWARN spotters include ham radio operators, emergency responders, citizen groups, and you!

Two SKYWARN courses are available online via the COMET MetEd program (link). However, since these modules do not cover local aspects of east-central Florida severe weather, they do not count for NWS Melbourne spotter training. You must attend a formal class to become an official spotter for NWS Melbourne and to obtain your spotter ID card.

A list of upcoming SKYWARN spotter classes is available below. The classes are free and generally last two hours - just register in advance! For further information about the NWS Melbourne SKYWARN Program, please contact the Warning Coordination Meteorologist via email to nws.melbourne@noaa.gov.


Class Schedule
Virtual Classes
Date	Time	Registration Link
		There are no virtual classes scheduled at this time.

In-Person Classes
County	Date	Time	Location	Registration Link
Osceola	Tue. Dec. 9	6:00 p.m.	Kissimmee - Osceola County Emergency Operations Center (map)	link

Spotter Links
Hazardous Weather	Local Area Forecast Discussion
	Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook
	Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Mesoscale Discussion
	Local Storm Reports (Text) \| Storm Reports (Graphical)

Spotter References	Submit a Storm Report
	NWS Weather Spotter Field Guide

SKYWARN Recognition Day	2000 \| 2001 \| 2002 \| 2003 \| 2004 \| 2005 \| 2006 \| 2007 \| 2008 \| 2009 \| 2010 \| 2011 \| 2012 \| 2013 \| 2014 \| 2015 \| 2016 \| 2017 \| 2018 \| 2023 \| 2024

About SKYWARN	National SKYWARN Page

Additional Training	COMET / MetEd (Register and Search "SKYWARN").

SKYWARN Activation Level

Hailstone Size Scale
BB	less than 0.25"
Pea	0.25"
Marble	0.50"
Penny	0.75"
Nickel	0.88"
Quarter	1.00" (criteria for severe hail)
Half Dollar	1.25"
Walnut	1.50"
Golf Ball	1.75"
Hen Egg	2.00"
Tennis Ball	2.50"
Baseball	2.75"
Grapefruit	4.00"
Softball	4.50"

List of Active Amateur Radio Spotter Groups

Below is a list of various amateur radio organizations, as of Oct. 2, 2023, who assist the National Weather Service by activating a SKYWARN weather net when severe weather threatens east central Florida. If there is a need to update this information, please e-mail sr-mlb.webmaster@noaa.gov.

County	Organization	Repeater Frequency	Tone	Notes
Brevard (North)	ARES of Brevard (BCAT) North Brevard ARC Titusville ARC	147.075+ -- 146.910 146.970 146.775	107.2 -- 107.2 107.2 100.0	Tone is TSQL.
Brevard (Central)	ARES of Brevard (BCAT) Indian River ARC	147.135+ 145.370-	107.2 156.7	Tone is TSQL.
Brevard (South)	ARES of Brevard (BCAT) Platinum Coast ARS (PCARS)	146.895- 146.850- 146.610-	107.2 107.2	Tone is TSQL. Tone 107.2 Hz from 1130 pm to 600 am
Indian River	Treasure Coast Weather Net	146.775- 145.130-	107.2 107.2
Volusia	Volusia Co. SKYWARN	147.240+ 146.865- 146.655-	123.0 103.5
Seminole	Seminole Co. SKYWARN	147.165+ 147.090+	103.5 103.5
Orange	Orange Co. Emergency Auxiliary Radio Team	443.050	103.5
Disney	Disney Emergency ARS (DEARS)	146.700 147.300+	103.5 103.5
Lake	Lake Co. Amateur Radio Association/ARES	147.255+ 147.390+	103.5 103.5
Okeechobee	Okeechobee Co. ARES	147.195+	100.0
St. Lucie	Treasure Coast Weather Net SLCARES	146.775- 147.345+	107.2 107.2
Osceola	Osceola Co. ARES & EMCAT	145.350-	103.5
Martin	Martin Co. SKYWARN Association	145.150- 147.060+	107.2 107.2