Light after the tornado - credit Lindsay GodfreeWhen out on the road 24/7 truck drivers see the weather rolling in, changing and gathering into weather patterns as well. Sometimes it is difficult to know just how serious bad weather is, but wouldn’t it be great to harness even a portion of the estimated 3.5 million truckers in the United States to help with early warning, and saving lives? SKYWARN has recognized the potential and is enlisting truckers to be spotters for the National Weather Service.
All you need is a cell phone, a computer and Internet access, plus the proper on-line training, to join the weather watch program. Accurate and reliable information from the general public is difficult to obtain and severe weather is complicated and confusing, so truckers do need some training.
Trucker Weather Watch training is probably the most extensive training that a SKYWARN spotter can take in order to be a member of the TWW program. TWW has gathered training from the NWS and has consolidated it in one location for the prospective TWW Spotter/Member. This is not just a trend in storm chasing for recreation.
The Student/Recruit must take approximately 20 course hours of training with 18 segments and tests to be completed and submitted within 60 days in order to be certified as a TWW spotter and member. Once a Student/Recruit completes the training they are then issued a unique Spotter ID number that identifies them with the TWW Program.
Storm clouds - credit Lindsay GodfreeIf you are a Professional Driver, Truck Driver, or Bus Driver, then you are welcome to apply to the TWW Program and take the training to become a member of TWW. To become a sever weather spotter with Trucker Weather Watch, fill out the student application.
If you are not in the transportation industry and is interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter you are then encouraged to contact your local NWS forecast office to learn more about civilian SKYWARN training.
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service (NWS) Severe Weather program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. Despite elaborate radar and forecasting equipment at the National Weather Service, they are only able to determine the potential for severe weather, relying on reports from the public, law enforcement personnel and partner organizations for the ground truth.
AP NewsThe NWS has found that only regular training of weather spotters improves the quality of information we receive. The National Weather Service (NWS) collaborates with Amateur Radio organizations and others partner organizations to put together training programs.
Trained Skywarn observers provide the Weather Service with accurate and timely reports from radio equipped cars, trucks and homes. The NWS is most interested in severe weather reports. Severe weather includes flash flooding, hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
If the NWS confirms severe weather with radar and other available information, it then notifies local authorities who then can activate Civil Defense sirens. The news media receives notification so they can make reports on local broadcast stations.
Skywarn volunteers donate thousands of hours and the use of their own personal radio equipment and vehicles to give their communities advanced warning of life threatening weather. Since the NWS instituted the Skywarn Program, there has been a significant decrease in the death rate due to tornadoes and other severe weather.
Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=skywarnprogram
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