Skywarn spottting

[bwoodfire45]

Can anyone fill me in on how to become a cerified skywarn storm spotter? Or even first, where I can go, online or else where, to get a ham radio license?

[texasemt13]

I'd start at arrl.org. There you can find out when exams are scheduled near you. They also have links to online practice exams. Worry about your ham ticket, then the rest falls in to place.

[LouisvilleScanMan]

Ham and SKYWARN are SEPERATE! You do NOT have to be a ham to be a spotter, I should know I was a spotter over a year before I became a ham but having a license does help. To find spotter training sessions in your area contact your local branch of the NWS and ask. And as for getting licensed just contact your local ham club and they should be able to direct you to a testing session and maybe a study class.

[rdale]

Originally Posted by bwoodfire45

Can anyone fill me in on how to become a cerified skywarn storm spotter?

NOAA's National Weather Service and select your local office. There will be a Skywarn link on the left-side. However almost all training sessions are done in the late-winter / early-spring.

[kc5fm]

Originally Posted by bwoodfire45

Can anyone fill me in on how to become a cerified skywarn storm spotter? Or even first, where I can go, online or else where, to get a ham radio license?

Skywarn is a local program supported by the National Weather Service. See SKYWARN™ National Home Page for more information.

Since you live in Wisconsin, contact your local NWS office. To find your local office, go to NOAA's National Weather Service and type your zip code in the search box on the left. If my assumption that you are served by the Green Bay office is correct, NWS Green Bay Storm Spotter Page is the link to their Skywarn information.

As for amateur radio, contact the American Radio Relay League at ARRLWeb: ARRL Home Page to find a club near you.

ARRLWeb: Affiliated Club Search is the club list for Wisconsin. Contact the club closest to you that offers help for newcomers. They will probably have a class in your area.

At QRZ.COM Callsign Database, you will find one of the many ham test practice exams. After you have studied, take the test. It will help you not only reinforce the material, but also increase your confidence level in taking the real test.

Once you are ready to take your test, ARRLWeb: Exam Session Search will give you a list of test sites, many administered by the clubs, available.

[bwoodfire45]

Thanks for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it!

[bswann]

Visit you closest Nationa Weather Office. There you will see a link to sigh up for 1 day training class and will be given a number to use when reporting in...

NOAA's National Weather Service

[metz87]

I wnet to a trianing class out ehre in Ohio about 2 years ago. It's free and open to the public. Alot of people think you ahve to be a meterologist to rpoert severe weather or attned one of these traning sessions. They do it in the srping bfore severe weather season as it is like their brek so to speak like it is break time for school or the NHL.

[MDS4682]

I took a 3-4 hours SkyWarn class at the University of Maryland College Park, earlier this year. If you would like to become a certified spotter, they asked you to fill out a questionaire about where you live, best point of contact. I received a letter by email about 3 months later with my Spotter ID number....

[W9RXR]

Originally Posted by MDS4682

I received a letter by email about 3 months later with my Spotter ID number....

Note that while some NWS offices issue spotter ID numbers, not all offices do. It depends on policies put in place by the Meteorologist-In-Charge and the Warning Coordination Meterologist at the local NWS office. Remember that Skywarn is a program administered by the local NWS offices and not all Skywarn programs are the same.