NWS BLACKSBURG SKYWARN ACTIVATION

Blacksburg SKYWARN is Activated for:

• Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches
• Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings
• Flood Warning (if not already activated for a Flood Watch)
• Winter Storm Watches and Warnings (at discretion of NWS)

Activation of SKYWARN is Initiated in Several Different Ways:

1.) Direct phone contact with the appropriate contact people by NWS to activate the system.

2.) System can automatically activate via weather spotters activation in the following cases:

• Severe T-Storm Watch/Warning
• Tornado Watch/Warning
• High Wind Warning
• Winter Storm/Blizzard Warning
• Flash Flood Watch/Warning
• Ice Storm Warning
• Winter Weather Watch/Warning

ACTIVATION GUIDELINES

When a Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, or Flood WATCH is Issued

This means severe weather is possible i.e. tornadoes, large hail, dangerous lightning and damaging thunderstorm winds. It is not yet occurring in the area and is usually in effect for a large area of many different counties. The net activates and stands-by to relay information from the NWS to the amateur radio community. As storms develop... amateur radio operators will relay reports to NWS - Blacksburg.

When a Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado, or Flood WARNING is Issued

This means severe weather is imminent or occurring... and is usually issued for one or two counties at a time and lasts for 1-2 hours. This requires a directed... formal County net with reports feeding in from Liaison Stations to the NWS.

When a High Wind, Winter Storm, Ice Storm, or Blizzard WARNING is Issued (and in some cases Winter Weather Advisories)

System activates upon request from the NWS for information such as snowfall, icing, wind, rainfall, rain/ice/snow line and of course any damage reports.

NET CONTROL RESOURCES

• Sample Script for calling up SKYWARN in Standby Mode
• SKYWARN Log in Printable Format (.pdf) Adobe 6.0 or later