Skywarn Net Safety and Preparedness

Safety is a fundamental consideration during Skywarn operations. We take this issue very seriously and you should too! For the safety of all and the integrity of SKYWARN, please do not engage in unsafe or unlawful behavior while in the field. The number one rule for participating in SKYWARN is...

Do not place yourself in danger to observe the weather!

Weather Spotters should not leave the safety of their homes to observe the weather. Being a Weather Spotter does not require you to go out and "chase" the storm. Your job as a Weather Spotter is to stay indoors and provide reports on your local conditions, at your home.

There are still some safety tips to keep in mind though when observing the weather from inside your home:

Indoors

• Stay away from windows, doors and electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures
• Unplug appliances before a storm approaches; not during the storm
• Do not use the telephone except for emergency
• It is important for amateur radio operators to shut down all HF, UHF and VHF base stations during a thunderstorm. Disconnect all radios and equipment from outdoor antennas to prevent damage in the event that lightning strikes your antenna (it happens!). This will help protect your home, family and radio equipment. See ARRL Lightning Protection Articles for more tips
• Its best not to operate any kind of portable radio equipment while the thunderstorm is passing directly over your home. Wait a few minutes and let the storm pass overhead first before transmitting.

After taking the necessary steps to prepare your home and family, Amateur Radio Operators can prepare for Skywarn activity during a thunderstorm by making sure you have some of the following equipment on hand and ready:

• Hand-Held 2 Meter Radio
• 5/8 Wavelength Telescopic Whip Antenna (best gain)
• At least two Battery Packs on hand:
  • One Fully Charged Ni-Cad or Ni-Mh Pack
  • One AA dry cell battery pack

If you do happen to be caught outdoors when a thunderstorm occurs, find shelter immediately. If you're unable to find shelter consider the following:

Outdoors

• Go to a shelter equipped with a lightning protection system such as found at golf courses, in some public parks and swimming pools
• Sit in a car
• Stay away from trees and other tall objects by a distance of at least twice their height
• Avoid areas that are higher than anything else around such as hilltops.
• Avoid wide-open fields
• Stay far away from metal objects such as towers or fences
• Immediately get out of water if you are swimming or boating
• Spread out - don't stand in a large group of people

If you feel a tingling sensation and/or your hair stands on end, a lightning strike may be imminent! Immediately crouch down on the ground and cover your ears. Don't lay on the ground or put your hands on the it

If after taking all possible precautions and lightning does strike nearby, or even directly, make certain that any injured people receive first aid assistance including CPR if necessary. Then seek medical attention immediately.

More Info: NWS Lightning Safety Program

Skywarn Safety Guides
(provided by the National Weather Service)

Most of these documents are in Adobe PDF Format which are printable and viewable by using the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is FREE online.

Basic Spotter's Field Guide
Advanced Spotter's Field Guide

Flash Floods and Floods
Hurricanes
Thunderstorms and Lightning
Tornadoes

Additional Safety Guides from NWS