Introduction to SKYWARN^TM Net Control Operations

SKYWARN^TM Nets have been organized in some counties in the Pendleton NWS WFO's County Warning and Forecast Area. Spotters who are licensed amateur radio operators (“hams”) are qualified to participate in the SKYWARN^TM Net. When activated, the SKYWARN^TM Net collects weather reports from hams and relays them to the Pendleton WFO. Until the SKYWARN^TM Net is activated, a ham radio spotter's first priority is to report hazardous or severe weather as soon as possible to the Pendleton WFO via landline using the SKYWARN^TM toll-free phone number.

All hams are welcome, and encouraged, to participate in the SKYWARN^TM Net in their area. Amateur radio operators do not need to be registered SKYWARN^TM spotters in order to participate in the SKYWARN^TM Net. In other words, participation in the SKYWARN^TM Net is open to all hams!

SKYWARN^TM Net Control Operations

Each SKYWARN^TM Net has a SKYWARN^TM Net Coordinator (SNC). The SNC manages SKYWARN^TM Net Control Operations and coordinates directly with the Pendleton WFO concerning matters pertaining to the SKYWARN^TM Net.

The SNC designates several hams to be members of a pool of Net Control Operators (NCO) for the SKYWARN^TM Net. NCOs are a resource for SKYWARN^TM Net Control Operations. When the SKYWARN^TM Net is activated, one NCO serves as the Net Control Station (NCS) and another NCO serves as the Net Relay Station (NRS). The NCS manages traffic on the SKYWARN^TM Net. The NRS logs weather reports that the SKYWARN^TM Net collects and relays those reports to the Pendleton WFO.

Activation of the SKYWARN^TM Net

Notification procedures are in place for activating the SKYWARN^TM Net. Chief among these is a separate telephone call up list for each SKYWARN^TM Net. The SNC and the NCOs for each SKYWARN^TM Net are listed as contacts for SKYWARN^TM Net Activation on a telephone call up list. The SNC is the primary contact and the NCOs are backup contacts for requests from the Pendleton WFO to activate the SKYWARN^TM Net. The Pendleton WFO maintains the telephone call up lists in its operations area.

Authority to Activate the SKYWARN^TM Net

Hams who have the authority to participate in SKYWARN^TM Net Control Operations also have the authority to activate the SKYWARN^TM Net on their own initiative. If it seems that the weather is threatening life and property, or if severe weather has already been observed, NCOs are authorized to activate the SKYWARN^TM Net at their discretion. Do not wait until the NWS issues a warning to activate the SKYWARN^TM Net. Do not wait for the Pendleton WFO to call you with a request to activate the SKYWARN^TM Net! If a NCO thinks the SKYWARN^TM Net would be productive in the collection of weather reports during severe weather, then go ahead and activate the SKYWARN^TM Net without delay. However, if severe weather is actually occurring, a NCO's highest priority is to first report the onset of severe weather immediately to the Pendleton WFO via the SKYWARN^TM toll-free phone number. In other words, if severe weather has already begun, then prior to activating the SKYWARN^TM Net a NCO is expected to initiate a landline call to the Pendleton WFO to report the severe weather and to notify the Forecaster that a NCO will activate the SKYWARN^TM Net. The NCO's next priority is to then activate the SKYWARN^TM Net.