Local Severe Weather Net Criteria
So, When do I start an "Local Net"? - Mike, W7IJ #1609
Generally speaking, it's a judgement call.
Please keep in mind that the repeater system that we operate SKYWARN has 11 repeaters linked together and has enormous coverage area.
If you are having a localized cell that is causing some damage, simply report it up to the National Weather Service and DO NOT start a net. The folks in New Mexico do not really care if you have a half inch of rain in your driveway in Tucson.
Please activate the Local Severe Weather Net on the following frequencies:
Pima and Santa Cruz County
Pima County OEM repeater system - 146.88 (-) PL 110.9 on top of Mt Lemon or
PECOC Tower (PECOC) - 147.30 (+) PL 110.9 at 22nd and Alvernon
Cochise County
CARA RACES repeater 147.02 (+) PL 162.2 on top of Mule Mountain
I use the following criteria before calling a formal SKYWARN net:
Please keep in mind that the repeater system that we operate SKYWARN has 11 repeaters linked together and has enormous coverage area.
If you are having a localized cell that is causing some damage, simply report it up to the National Weather Service and DO NOT start a net. The folks in New Mexico do not really care if you have a half inch of rain in your driveway in Tucson.
Please activate the Local Severe Weather Net on the following frequencies:
Pima and Santa Cruz County
Pima County OEM repeater system - 146.88 (-) PL 110.9 on top of Mt Lemon or
PECOC Tower (PECOC) - 147.30 (+) PL 110.9 at 22nd and Alvernon
Cochise County
CARA RACES repeater 147.02 (+) PL 162.2 on top of Mule Mountain
I use the following criteria before calling a formal SKYWARN net:
- Guidance from the NWS in their daily briefings which indicates that impacting weather conditions are expected on that day will generally mean that we will be at the ready to activate that day.
- The coverage area affects several neighborhoods in the area or a travel corridor, such as I-10, etc.
And... - There are several stations trying to pass traffic and it is difficult to determine if information is getting to the National Weather Service.
- If you have been given an NWS Chat account log in and let the forecasters know that you are activating a severe weather net.
- Read the activation script.
- Poll the net for SKYWARN spotters. There may be a lot of folks willing to help (Hams are like that), but the simple truth is that without a spotter number, the NWS treats the report as UNCONFIRMED.
- Find spotter(s) that can relay traffic to the National Weather Service. It is VERY difficult to run a net AND call the NWS. Anybody can forward information to the NWS via the online reporting tool. Find someone on the net who has access to a computer who can enter weather reports using this tool. DELEGATION IS KEY to running a successful net. You are not expected to do everything and you will find that in times of crisis, most amateur will rise to the occasion and are very helpful- Put them to work! Because of our coverage area, we also can get SECTOR 2 and SECTOR 4 SKYWARN spotters. Depending on the situation, these folks aren't in the heat of it and can pass traffic without the distraction of bad weather...
- You can take information from NON-SKYWARN folks, but it is considered to be from an "UNTRAINED OBSERVER".
- Make sure that reports are short, sweet and to the point. A SKYWARN net is not the place to rag-chew..
- Keep the net open ONLY AS LONG AS IT NEEDS TO BE. As soon as you see the activity tail off, begin to close the net. We can always reactivate.
- Most of our monsoon storms coincide with the Saguaro NTS net on EAARS. Work with their Net Control- It's been my pleasant experience that SKYWARN and NTS interleave quite nicely and that the NTS guys will yield to SKYWARN traffic- As SKYWARN NCS, make sure that the SKYWARN spotters are aware of the net on OVARC so as not to interfere with the NTS net unless it is truly URGENT traffic (damaging winds, hail, a tornado, etc.)
- Be sure to thank the repeater system for the use of their repeater system on closing the net.
