|
|
|
|
Real-time storm reports, combined with Doppler radar data, are critical for issuing timely and accurate severe weather warnings. Spotters provide ground-truth information, such as hail size, wind speed, tornado development, and local damage, to help warn the public. These reports, that lead to warnings, can directly save lives. Even as new technology allows the National Weather Service to issue warnings with greater lead time, spotters will always serve as a critical link between radar indications of severe weather and what’s happening on the ground.
Who Are Spotters?
Virtually every community has some form of spotter network. Often, local fire and police personnel are trained to observe and report severe weather, partly due to their extensive radio communication and 24-hour operations. Citizens may also be an active part of the spotter network, some with an avid interest in the weather and many without. Some spotters are amateur radio operators. All share a sense of responsibility to their neighbors.
What Is SKYWARN?
SKYWARN is a program sponsored by the National Weather Service. The program is made up of thousands of volunteers who attend regular training and then scan the skies of their communities identifying and reporting critical storm information. These volunteers, sometimes organized under the SKYWARN banner in the U.S., are typically trained by NWS forecasters to be the eyes and ears of both the warning forecasters and the local public safety networks.
While there is on-line material you can study, we recommend you attend a spotter training class when offered in your area. They are free of charge and open to all. This allows you to learn about local protocols and preferences used by NWS La Crosse.
The National Weather Service (NWS) and local county emergency managers host spotter training classes every spring. These in-person spotter training classes are offered primarily in larger cities and towns, but also in several rural counties and smaller towns. Nearly every county in the NWS La Crosse service area offers in-person spotter training classes at least every other year. A few online (virtual) classes are also conducted every spring.
Here is a link to the NWS La Crosse Storm Spotter Training schedule.
NOTE: Storm spotting is different than storm chasing. Training classes are geared towards training SPOTTERS that report in the local area.
DATE | TIME (CT) | COUNTY | CITY | LOCATION |
March 10 | 7:00 p.m. | Clayton | Garnavillo, IA | Fire Dept. |
March 14 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL |
March 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Chickasaw | New Hampton, IA | County Rescue Squad |
March 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Wabasha | Lake City, MN | Public Safety Building |
March 29 | 6:30 p.m. | Fayette | Hawkeye, IA | Fire Dept. |
March 30 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL |
April 5 | 2:00 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL |
April 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Winneshiek | Decorah, IA | Fire Dept. |
April 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Vernon | Viroqua, WI | Viroqua Church of Christ |
April 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Monroe | Sparta/Angelo, WI | Western Tech |
April 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Olmsted | Rochester, MN | Empire Event Center |
April 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Grant | Lancaster, WI | Lancaster High School |
April 19 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL |
April 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Clark | Owen/Curtiss, WI | Curtiss Fire Station |
April 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Winona | Winona, MN | County Historical Society |
April 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Mitchell | Osage, IA | Public Safety Center |
Tornado / Funnel Clouds | ||||||
|
||||||
Damaging Wind | ||||||
|
||||||
Hail | ||||||
|
||||||
Flood | ||||||
|
||||||
Winter | ||||||
|
Amateur Radio Operators (HAMS) are a vital link in the spotter and communication network used by the NWS during severe or otherwise inclement weather and provide a reliable means of communications to NWS offices should normal communication modes fail.
Frequencies
Below is a listing of amateur radio frequencies and/or repeaters that SKYWARN spotters use in the NWS La Crosse service area. NWS La Crosse uses the vanity call sign of 'WX9ARX'. Local amateur radio volunteers help operate our base stations to collect area spotter reports. Otherwise staff members from the La Crosse National Weather Service (NWS) office, who have their amateur radio license, also operate and coordinate information. An example radio log file can be found here - Amateur Radio Log Main NWS La Crosse contact for spotter coordination is Todd Shea, Warning Coordination Meteorologist. |
![]() |
Southeast Minnesota
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Rochester #1 | 147.255+ | 100.0 | W0EAS Repeater |
Rochester #2 | 146.82- | 100.0 | RARC Repeater |
Wabasha Co. | 146.745- | 136.5 | |
Winona #1 | 146.64- | 100.0 | |
Winona #2 | 146.835- | 131.8 | |
Spring Valley | 147.015+ | 110.9 | |
Austin | 146.73- | 100.0 | Too distant from NWS La Crosse |
Northeast Iowa
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Cresco | 146.925- | 103.5 | |
Decorah #1 | 146.67- | 103.5 | |
Decorah #2 | 147.165+ | 123.0 | |
St.Ansgar | 147.195+ | 103.5 | Quite distant from NWS La Crosse |
Dubuque | 147.240+ | 114.8 | Quite distant from NWS La Crosse |
Western Wisconsin
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
La Crosse #1 | 146.97- | 131.8 | Primary Contact Repeater |
La Crosse #2 | 147.09+ | 131.8 | |
Mt.Sterling | 147.36+ | 131.8 | SW Wisconsin link |
Viroqua | 145.170- | 131.8 | |
Tomah | 146.805- | 131.8 | |
Black River Falls | 145.390- | 131.8 | |
Eau Claire | 146.91- | 110.9 | |
Galesville | 147.00+ | 131.8 | |
Richland Co. | 146.910- | 131.8 | |
Beetown | 146.895- | 114.8 | Distant to NWS La Crosse - Grant Co. |
Central Wisconsin
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Mauston #1 | 146.85- | 123.0 | Also serves Adams Co. |
Mauston #2 | 147.210+ | 123.0 | |
Adams Co. | 147.03+ | 123.0 | |
Coloma | 146.700- | 123.0 | Also serves Adams Co. |
Big Flats | 146.625- | 123.0 | |
Granton | 146.775- | 114.8 | N9RRF Repeater / Link to north central WI |
Unity | 145.41- | 114.8 | Link to Taylor Co. |
Willard | 147.270+ | 114.8 | |
Sauk Co. | 147.315+ | 123.0 | Link to NWS Sullivan |
Baraboo | 146.88- | 123.0 |
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the SKYWARN program or severe storm spotting for the La Crosse NWS office.
Is there a cost for the training?
Do I need to register before the training?
Do I need to bring anything to the training class?
Do spotters need special tools or equipment?
Is there a minimum age requirement to become a spotter?
When are spotter training classes held?
Are classes rescheduled due to bad weather?
Will I get paid for being a spotter?
Will I get an official ID, spotter number, or certificate?
Can I attend training in a different county?
Who typically deploys SKYWARN spotters?
Who organizes local spotter networks?
Who organizes and schedules the spotter training class?
Why can't training be held in my community?
Why isn't training being held in my county this year?
Is an Advanced Spotter Training class available?
How often do I need to come to training?
References
Spotting | Training / Misc
|
Climatology
SKYWARN Spotter Location Maps
Maps of area counties with suggested spotting locations: