“We’re the eyes on the ground,” said Bob Morrison, net control operator for Dayton SKYWARN. “We’re not storm chasers. We’re storm spotters.”
However, they take it a step further than the average storm spotter.
When weather strikes, this volunteer group of Ham radio operators works hand-in-hand with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, through direct radio communications.
“We’re the ones who receive the reports from the trained spotters,” said Don Parker, co-coordinator of Dayton SKYWARN. “We pass that along to the weather service.
The chain of command, from the spotters in the field, to the Com. Center, and then to the National Weather Service, ensures only precise information, on the most severe weather, gets passed along. That way the National Weather Service isn’t flooded with unnecessary information.
This exchange of information happens quickly. Dayton SKYWARN members know just what to report.
“Heavy rains, high winds more than 40 miles per hour, nickel sized hail and downed limbs and trees,” said Morrison. That’s just a brief list of what they report.
Certain reports may even lead the National Weather Service to issue a warning,.
“Often time weather spotters themselves can pick out rotation of clouds before the weather service picks it up,” said Parker.
The communication works both ways. The National Weather Service also reports various warnings, watches and other weather information to Dayton SKYWARN, so the amateur radio operators can be on the look-out.
In any severe storm the 15 counties in the Dayton SKYWARN network of trained amateur spotters are essential to relaying weather information to the public.
To become a Dayton SKYWARN member, attend the Advanced Spotter Training class on March 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will take place at Berry Women's Pavilion Amphitheater, Miami Valley Hospital, 1 Wyoming Street, Dayton. For more information contact Louis Long at 937-371-6760 or LouisPLong2@aol.com.