The volunteer SKYWARN program comprises nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters — many of them radio amateurs — who identify severe storms and provide NWS forecasters with reports of local weather conditions during severe weather events.
SKYWARN Recognition Day, an on-air event, pays tribute to Amateur Radio operators for the vital public service they perform. Cosponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service, this years’ Recognition day will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC. Registration is now open for stations planning to participate from a National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office; a list of NWS participating offices is on the NWS SKYWARN Recognition Day web page.
During the 24-hour event, Amateur Radio operators set up at NWS offices and contact other hams across the country. This event is also aimed at strengthening the bond between Amateur Radio operators and local NWS offices. SKYWARN Recognition Day is not a contest.
During SKYWARN Recognition Day amateur stations exchange contact information with as many National Weather Service-based stations as possible on SSB, FM, CW, RTTY, and AM on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus 70 centimeters. Repeater contacts are permitted. Stations exchange call signs, signal reports, location, and a one or two-word description of the weather (e.g., sunny, partly cloudy, windy, rainy). Procedures are detailed on the NOAA SRD web page.
To learn more, visit the SKYWARN Recognition Day website. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio/