SKYWARN
AT NWS WAKEFIELD VA
SKYWARN
AT NWS WAKEFIELD VA
The Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Wakefield VA serves 51 counties and 15 independent cities in central and eastern Virginia, northeast North Carolina, and the lower Maryland Eastern Shore. We issue warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, winter weather, marine hazards, wind chill and excessive heat. The capabilities of the WSR-88D (NEXRAD) have enabled us to better detect severe weather phenomena, and provide increased warning lead time. However, we still need ground truth to supplement our warnings. This is where you come in! We need storm spotters, especially in the rural areas in our county warning area. Bill Sammler, our Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) has developed a storm spotter training program. If you would like to inquire about becoming a storm spotter, click here to send an e-mail message to Bill. Click for UPCOMING Training sessions. SPRING Spotter Training sessions generally end on or about June 15th. A limited number of FALL sessions will be scheduled.
The NWS Wakefield SKYWARN network has grown by more than 500 members since 1994. To become a SKYWARN volunteer, you must meet the following requirements:
1) Attend the "Basic SKYWARN class". It's free of charge, lasts about 3 hours, and provides the student with materials and background necessary to be a spotter. FOLLOW-UP TRAINING IS REQUIRED EVERY 3 YEARS TO MAINTAIN ACTIVE SKYWARN STATUS.
2) Complete the SKYWARN Sign-Up Form - either at the class or at home, and return it to the instructor. These forms give the NWS information we use to contact you during severe weather. In addition, your address information allows us to plot your location on our radar displays for real-time geographical access.
Thank you for your interest in the
SKYWARN program.
Click HERE
to get a copy of the Basic
Spotter's Field Guide. Click here
for the latest edition of the "Spotter's Page", our on-line spotter newsletter.
NEW!! Basic SKYWARN Presentations ONLINE!!!
Click Here.
|
Date
|
Time
|
Location
|
Details
|
| Thursday November
4, 2004 |
6:30pm |
Warsaw,
VA (Richmond county) |
To Pre-register, please e-mail Verlan Hall |
NWS Wakefield
Basic SKYWARN Training Presentations
Part
1 (4.5MB PDF File) and Part 2
(5.5MB PDF File).
Click
this button to access the National Skywarn Homepage
Click here to access the Virginia RACES Skywarn Homepage.
Click here to access the Virginia ARES Skywarn Homepage.
Click here for an on-line Storm Spotter's Guide from the National Severe Storms Laboratory
Click here for the latest edition of the "Spotter's Page".
For information on how your community can prepare
for hazardous weather, click
here to go to the National Weather Service StormReady site.