National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

 

Date of Spotter Training County and Location of Venue Time of Spotter Training
Basic Training: Tuesday, February 27 2024 Virtual - Register 7:00-8:30 PM EST
Basic Training: Thursday, February 29 2024 Virtual - Register 7:00-8:30 PM EST
Advanced Training: Thursday, March 7 2024 Virtual - Register 7:00-8:30 PM EST
- - -

 

To register for online spotter classes, please click the link in the table above. 

This table will be updated as spotter classes are added. Entries will be removed once completed

Weather Spotter Links

The Weather Spotter's Field Guide. A useful summary of many aspects of our spotter training and things to look for. This is also a guide on what kind of things we need to hear about.
Spotter Quick Reference Guide. A quick reference guide on what things are useful to report to the NWS Office. Also a link to various references relevant to spotters.
CoCoRaHS Information. A link to information about the CoCoRaHS network. A way to report Rain, Hail, and Snow reports to the NWS.
Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador Application. More information about the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador Program.
Post-Spotter Class Registration After you have been through a spotter class from one of our NWS Meteorologists, please fill out the linked form.

 

 

 Weather Spotter Training Videos (prepared by NWS Tallahassee)

Basic Weather Spotter Training

Advanced Weather Spotter Training

Weather Spotter Refresher Training

After going through our training, please go through and update your contact information with us here:

Social Media Dashboard (easiest way to report weather to us)

 

QUESTIONS: Sr-tae.webmaster@noaa.gov

Last Update:  February 8, 2024

 

To report severe weather: Call 850-942-8833 (option 9 to ring through to forecaster)

Welcome to our SKYWARNTM page! The most important goal of the National Weather Service (NWS) is to protect lives and property through timely watches and warnings, and the SKYWARNTM program is an essential part of achieving this goal.

Since SKYWARNTM began in the 1970s, thousands of volunteers have helped the NWS issue more accurate and timely severe weather warnings by acting as spotters. The role of the spotter is to serve as the eyes and ears of the NWS during severe weather situations.

Most SKYWARNTM volunteers are involved with amateur (HAM) radio, because HAM radio operators are well-equipped to relay their reports of severe weather. However, the SKYWARNTM program also includes law enforcement agencies, emergency management personnel, public utilities workers, and even people who are simply interested in the weather.

Although the NWS office at Tallahassee has obtained modernized equipment such as the WSR-88D Doppler radar to better detect severe weather, SKYWARNTM spotters continue to be essential to our warning process.  Even with all the new technology, an accurate report from a SKYWARNTM spotter often provides critical information required by the forecasters to issue timely warnings, which can save lives.  

If you live within our forecast area, we invite you to become part of the SKYWARNTM program. We offer seminars that train spotters to identify and report severe weather, and to also look for indications that severe weather may be imminent.  

A very important part of our SKYWARNTM network is Amateur (HAM) Radio. HAM radio operators, or HAMs, are a valuable resource to the NWS because of their ability to communicate during times of severe weather when other communication media may fail. Many HAMs have radios in their cars, which allows them to "go mobile" and get to areas where severe weather is occurring.

At least one HAM is also stationed at the NWS office when severe weather is occurring. It is the duty of this HAM to act as a network controller by relaying information between HAMs in the field and NWS personnel. HAMs report their positions and eyewitness reports, while NWS personnel give information about storm locations and motions. This allows the net controller to instruct other HAMs where to go.

Area HAMs recently set up an Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) at the NWS Tallahassee office. APRS uses packet radio to relay data that can be displayed on a computer.

If you want to learn more about Amateur Radio, a good place to start is the Amateur Radio Relay League. Excellent resources for getting started in HAM radio can also be found at local HAM Radio clubs.

Any amateur radio or county government organization that would like to receive SKYWARNTM spotter training should contact Mark Wool.


Please send questions or comments about this page to Mark Wool.

SKYWARNTM Repeater Frequencies

Even if you do not have a HAM radio license, you can still monitor the frequencies below with a scanner to hear the latest weather reports provided by SKYWARNTM Spotters in or near our County Warning Area (CWA).

Tallahassee Area
Frequency Call Sign Location Remarks
146.655- AE4S Tallahassee PL 94.8; for SKYWARNTM
146.910- KC4YWP Tallahassee PL 123.0; TARS club
147.03+ K4TLH Tallahassee PL 123.0; TARS club
146.610- N4PG Tallahassee PL 203.5
147.345+ KG4CJX Tallahassee  
146.865- KS4JW Tallahassee PL 94.8
FSU campus
442.000+ KS4JW Tallahassee PL 151.4
FSU campus
may be linked with 146.865
442.850+ K4TLH Tallahassee PL 123.0
443.400+ KB4ES Tallahassee PL 131.8
443.950+ AE4S Tallahassee PL 94.8
444.400+ KD4MOJ Tallahassee PL 131.8
444.800+ KC4TOC Tallahassee  
145.430+ N4EHX Monticello, FL PL 103.5
NET 8:30 PM Tuesday
145.250+ KD4DSU Chattahoochee  
146.715- KF4DYR Bristol, FL  
147.165+ KB4RRT Quincy, FL  
147.015+   Madison, FL AROM club
146.970- W4RTN Perry, FL  
Southwest and South Central Georgia
147.060+ W4UCJ Boston  
147.195+ W4UCJ Metcalf PL Tone 141.3
146.820- W4MM Acre Albany club repeater
primary SKYWARNTM frequency
146.700-
444.500+
W4MM Albany club repeater
443.000+   Bainbridge PL 100.0
147.285+ W4PVW Chula
(near Tifton)
Coastal Plains ARC
PL 103.5 (444 from tonepad overrides)
146.790- WD4KOW Moultrie  
145.130- WR4SG Valdosta also 444.350
T141.3
Tall Pine Intertie
145.310 KB4JF Nashville T141.3
Tall Pine Intertie
147.135 WR4SG Lake Park T141.3
Tall Pine Intertie
147.285 W4PVW Ashburn T141.3
Tall Pine Intertie
146.760- KF4BJM Valdosta T141.3
Florida Panhandle
146.940- NX4E Panama City Local PL tone 103.5. Located north of P.C.
145.210- W4RYZ Panama City club repeater
53.050- AC4QB Panama City 6m repeater back in operation
145.330- AC4QB Panama City PL 100 Hz; linked to KF4JMM
145.210- W4RYZ Panama City primary club repeater
147.520 (now simplex) W4RYZ Panama City 2-10m link (29.600 FM) [inoperative at this time]
146.940- NK4A Panama City Bay County info. net
145.390- KD4VGX Panama City PL 103.5
147.390+ WA6QKN Panama City  
444.825+ KD4HDI Tallahassee  
147.300+ W4WEB Port St. Joe  
444.000+ KD4RZP Port St. Joe  
444.975+ WA4ISJ Shell Point  
444.750+ KT4QH Tallahassee  
147.285+ KF4PDX De Funiak Springs PL 100.0 WCARC repeater
147.375+ W4XLG De Funiak Springs area PL 100.0
weather & ARES
443.750+ KG4IDW De Funiak Springs area PL 100.0
444.825+ KF4JMM   Local 103.5 PL Tone
444.500+ KF4JMM   Local 103.5 PL Tone
444.075+ KF4JMM   Local 103.5 PL Tone
147.360+   N Okaloosa County just W of our CWA - SKYWARNTM
146.790-   S. Okaloosa County just W of our CWA - SKYWARNTM
Southeast Alabama
147.340+ N4RNU Dothan EMA for RACES/ARES
147.240+ WD4ROJ Enterprise club
145.270- W4UZR Geneva PL 103.5
147.260+ WC4M Andalusia Covington County just W of our CWA
146.570   Andalusia simplex SKYWARNTM frequency
147.945 K2DAL Daleville Daleville Area Amateur Radio Service. Offset with 124 Hz tone

 


 

SKYWARNTM HAM Radio Clubs

(some information provided courtesy of the ARRL)

ALBANY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Specialties: General Interest
Call sign: W4MM
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Higher-level classes
PO Box 70601
Albany, GA 31708-0601
Contact: SHIPLEY WM A, N4GPJ
Phone: (912)439-7055 (D) (912)439-7055 (N)
Web: http://www.w4mm.com

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS OF MADISON (AROM)
214 W. Base St.
Madison, FL 32340
President: Pat Lightcap (WD4ODB)
Treasurer: Pat Cantey (N4UXE)
Meetings held on local repeater 147.015

COASTAL PLAINS ARC, INC.
Call sign: W4PVW
Services: Help for newcomers, SKYWARNTM
327 Hudson Ave
Ashburn, GA 31714
Contact: Greg Walls, W4GHW
Phone: Day: (229) 567-1480 Night: (229) 567-4610
Web: http://www.facebook.com/w4pvw
E-mail: W4GHW@arrl.net

COLQUITT CTY HAM RADIO SOCIETY
Specialties: General Interest
Call sign: WD4KOW
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes
PO BOX 815
Moultrie, GA 31776
Contact: JOEL D GOINGS, AA4P
Phone: (912)985-3241 (D) (912)985-3241 (N)

DALEVILLE AREA AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE 
Specialties:   Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Call Sign:   K2DAL
P O Box 724
Daleville AL 36322
Contact:   Kevin Turley, K9ADE 
Website:   www.Daleville.US 
ARES Net:   Sundays at 3 pm on the K2DAL repeater 

ENTERPRISE AMATUER RADIO SOCIETY (EARS)
Specialties: General, BBS/Internet Gateway, APRS
Call sign: WD4ROJ
Services: Help for newcomers, Testing, Other
P.O. Box 310034
Enterprise, AL 36331-0034
Web: http://www.earsweb.com

PANAMA CITY Amateur Radio Club (PCARC)
Specialties: General Interest
Call sign: W4RYZ
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Other
130 Church Ave, Panama City 32401
Contact: Kenn Handschuh, KG4VQI
E-mail: president@w4ryz.org
Web: http://www.w4ryz.org

PLAYGROUND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (Ft. Walton Beach, FL)
Web: http://www.w4zbb.org/

SOUTH ALABAMA RADIO CLUB
Call sign: WC4M
P.O. Box 1923
Adalusia, AL 36420
Contact: 73 Larry, KF4GRA
E-mail: kf4gra@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.wc4m.net/

TALLAHASSEE AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
Specialties: General Interest
Call sign: K4TLH
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes, Higher-level classes
PO BOX 37127
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2644
Contact: KENT B HUTCHINSON, KC4TOC
Phone: (904)487-9164 (D) (904)574-4200 (N)
Web: http://www.k4tlh.org/

THOMASVILLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Call sign: W4UCJ
PO BOX 251
Thomasville, GA 31799
Contact: Mike Brown KE4FGF
Phone: (912) 226-5060
Club E-mail: t.a.r.c@rose.net

VALDOSTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Specialties: General Interest
Call Sign: KF4BJM
Services: Help for newcomers, entry and higher level testing/classes
PO BOX 3712
VALDOSTA, GA
Web: http://www.varc.net/

WALTON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (De Funiak Springs, FL)
Call sign: WF4X
75 South Davis Lane
De Funiak Springs, FL 32435
Contact: Bill Bishop
Phone: (850) 585-1121
FAX: (850) 892-7272
Club E-mail: wf4x@waltoncountyarc.com

Web: http://www.waltoncountyarc.com/

WIREGRASS ARC
Specialties: General Interest
Call sign: WB4ZPI
Services: Help for newcomers, Entry-level classes
PO BOX 958
DOTHAN, AL 36301
Web: http://www.wb4zpi.org


Other Spotter Groups

Calhoun County, FL
Contact: Jim Voivedich
E-mail: jimstormspoter@webtv.net