Skywarn

SKYWARN^™

SKYWARN^™ is a national effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies with an expanding network of trained weather spotters. The services performed by SKYWARN^™ spotters have saved many lives.

The National Weather Service has a number of devices for detecting severe thunderstorms. Included in these are Doppler radar, satellite, and lightning detection networks. However, the most important tool for observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the storm spotter.

By providing observations, SKYWARN^™ spotters assist National Weather Service members in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local warning program.

The National Weather Service office in Buffalo participates in the annual ARRL - SKYWARN^™ special event. For details on the national event, QSL instructions and the rest of the statistics, check out the Special event homepage.

NWS Buffalo SKYWARN^™Training Sessions

SKYWARN^™ is a nationwide program of spotters that report severe weather to the National Weather Service. Anyone can become a SKYWARN^™ spotter for the National Weather Service, all you have to do is attend one of our Spotter Training Sessions. There is no charge for the training.

SKYWARN^™ training sessions are held throughout our area of responsibility based on demand. SKYWARN training sessions for Severe Convective Weather (Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Flash Floods, etc.) are conducted from March through May. SKYWARN training sessions for Winter Weather are conducted from September through November. The basic training session provides a brief overview to the National Weather Service (the organization and our responsibilities), the equipment we use (including capabilities and limitations), and basic severe weather meteorology (including how thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes form). Training sessions last about two hours.

SKYWARN training sessions for Winter Weather are conducted from September through November.

Attendees are instructed what types of severe weather the National Weather Service is interested in hearing about and are given an 800 telephone number for 24 hour access make reports directly to the NWS forecasters.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Fries -- michael.j.fries@noaa.gov -- WFO Buffalo, Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Jon Hitchcock -- jon.hitchcock@noaa.gov -- WFO Buffalo, SKYWARN Program Coordinator

Spring 2020 Training Schedule (Severe Weather SKYWARN)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Following the latest recommendations from the CDC and NWS Leadership on social distancing for Coronavirus COVID-19, the NWS Buffalo SKYWARN Training program has been suspended through at least the end of April. All SKYWARN Training dates through the end of April have been cancelled.

The two training sessions in May are still scheduled for now, but these may also be cancelled as the situation evolves.

NOTE: All 4 online sessions listed below will cover the same training material, you only need to attend one session

DATE	TIME	COUNTY	LOCATION	ORGANIZATION
Monday 3/30/2020	7:00 PM	ONLINE	ONLINE Click Here to Register	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY
Tuesday 4/14/2020	7:00 PM	ONLINE	ONLINE Click Here to Register	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY
Wednesday 4/29/2020	7:00 PM	ONLINE	ONLINE Click Here to Register	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY
Tuesday 5/12/2020	7:00 PM	Niagara	Warren J. Rathke Public Safety Training Facility 5574 Niagara St Extension Lockport, NY 14059	Niagara County Emergency Services
Wednesday 5/13/2020	7:00 PM	ONLINE	ONLINE Click Here to Register	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY
Thursday 5/14/2020	7:00 PM	Cattaraugus	Allegany Community Center 186 West Main St Allegany, NY 14706	Cattaraugus County Emergency Services