National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heavy Rainfall and Thunderstorms Threaten Northern Florida Today; Rain and Mountain Snows to Return to California by Late Tuesday

Thunderstorms with isolated damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall will be possible for portions of far southern Georgia into northern Florida today ahead of a cold front. Out West, another system approaching the coast on Tuesday will gradually increase the threat for rain across parts of coastal California and snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Read More >

skywarn

National Program

NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program

Weather.gov > skywarn

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning caused hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages.  To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In an average year, the the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters are citizens who form the nation's first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time--seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

Who is eligible and how do I get started?

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches and nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter. Ready to learn more? Find a class in your area. Training is free and typically lasts about 2 hours. You'll learn:

  • Basics of thunderstorm development
  • Fundamentals of storm structure
  • Identifying potential severe weather features
  • Information to report
  • How to report information
  • Basic severe weather safety

Need help with your Spotter Number or other local information such as a missing class schedule? Looking for our online program?

If you're looking for a class or information about the local NWS program, check find a class in your area for local information.  If you need a little more help finding your spotter number or a class schedule, contact your local Warning Coordination Meteorologist.  He or she can help you get, find or replace your spotter information and let you know about upcoming classes.Classes are typically held in an office's relatively slow season.  Classes are NOT typically offered all year.  Schedules vary from office to office.  You also can also take our online spotter program.  Some local offices also ask that you take a local class to learn about weather unique to your area.
SKYWARN

® is a registered trademark of NOAA's National Weather Service.  Please read the rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo.