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

Fall 2022 Training Schedule

Note: Fall training covers winter storms, lake effect snow, flooding, measuring snow, winter weather safety, and how to report to the NWS.

All of the scheduled training sessions will cover the same material

DATE	TIME	COUNTY	LOCATION	ORGANIZATION
Thursday 10/27/22	7 PM	Lewis	Lewis County Jefferson Community College Education Center Classroom 4 and 5 7395 East Rd, Lowville, NY 13367	Lewis County Office of Emergency Management
Wednesday 11/2/22	7 PM	Online	Online Registration Required!	NWS Buffalo Click Here for Registration
Friday 11/4/22	7 PM	Erie	Buffalo State College Bulger Communications Center Lecture Room 217 Important - Park in lot I-37 Link to Parking Map	WNY American Meteorological Society Chapter Erie County Emergency Services
Wednesday 11/9/22	7 PM	Monroe	Monroe County Emergency Operations Center 1190 Scottsville Rd., Suite 200 Rochester, New York 14624	Monroe County Emergency Management
Tuesday 11/15/22	7 PM	Chautauqua	Chautauqua County Municipal Building 2 Academy St, Mayville, NY 14757	Chautauqua County Emergency Services
Thursday 11/17/22	11 AM	Online	Online Registration Required!	NWS Buffalo Click Here for Registration
Tuesday 11/29/22	7 PM	Online	Online Registration Required!	NWS Buffalo Click Here for Registration