2009-10-02: Weather Spotting

[taugust]

This week's net topic was Skywarn and Weather Spotting. My guest was Miguel Miller, National Weather Service Forecaster and Weather Spotter Program Manager. Jim Courter KF6RWF, Regional Coordinator, SW California SKYWARN was unable to make the net as scheduled.. The net originated from the amateur radio station within the National Weather Service forecast office in San Diego.

Southwest California SKYWARN is an all volunteer organization that supports the National Weather Service Forecast Office in San Diego, California. It's service region covers the following Areas: San Diego, Orange, Western Riverside and Southwest San Bernardino Counties. It's membership is comprised of trained weather spotters who are also amateur radio operators.

Since OUTDOOR is our first name, the weather is a factor in everything we do, from determining if we will start an adventure, to the equipment and clothing we carry for that adventure. Because we often travel in remote parts of our state, and have well equipped and capable vehicles, and many of us are amateur radio operators, we are in a position to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the National Weather Service when weather turns bad. Weather spotters provide real-time ground truth observations of weather occurances and report to the NWS, which aids in forecasting and warning.

This net provided an overview of the weather spotter program, and information on becoming a trained weather spotter and Skywarn member. We discussed why the National Weather Service needs spotters, and the various types of severe weather that merits a report. Also discussed were training and how to become a weather spotter and Skywarn member. We had 25 check-ins.

[cruiserlarry]

Sounds like a great topic, I hope I can hear it this week (after the Vice Presidential debates)...

[BlueFJ]

Looking forward to it! Should be a good one as always.

[Frogeye]

This sounds like a very interesting net. I'm going to try to listen in.

[DaveK]

Great stuff, Tim. Thanks for bring this topic to our net series.

[OLLIE]

Sounds like a great topic, I hope I can hear it this week (after the Vice Presidential debates)...

Hmmm.... Vice Presidential Debate or OAUSA Net?????

I'll take the net any day over the debate.

[cruiserlarry]

Sounds like a great topic, I hope I can hear it this week (after the Vice Presidential debates)...

Hmmm.... Vice Presidential Debate or OAUSA Net?????

I'll take the net any day over the debate.

Yeah, but I love a good comedy...

[OLLIE]

Sounds like a great topic, I hope I can hear it this week (after the Vice Presidential debates)...

Hmmm.... Vice Presidential Debate or OAUSA Net?????

I'll take the net any day over the debate.

Yeah, but I love a good comedy...

Yeah... I saw part of it. It was quite humerous. The lady (don't know her name ) needs some help in the public speaking department.

We digress... Back on topic... How did the net go???

[toms]

The net went very well. Tim and Miguel did an outstanding job. I learned quite a bit.

What are you going to do for your next net Tim? How are you going to top this one?

[taugust]

The net went very well. Tim and Miguel did an outstanding job. I learned quite a bit.

What are you going to do for your next net Tim? How are you going to top this one?

After the net, Miguel and I discussed doing more advanced topics on the weather, if folks are interested. He really enjoyed the discussion. No word yet if he got any new weather spotters.