[CALV-ARES] From CALV EC: Adverse Weather Alert, BGE Customers and SKYWARN

[Dennis N3QHC]

To:  ALL CALV ARES STATIONS

DATE:  April 19, 2013

 

Calvert County may experience severe weather today.  Get prepared.  For more
information at NWS Sterling, Virginia go to
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS
<http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=LWX&product=HWO>
&issuedby=LWX&product=HWO 

  

BGE customers located in northern county please note online account services
will be unavailable Saturday, April 20 through Sunday, April 21 for system
upgrades.  You will NOT be able to report electricity outages or down power
lines using www.bge.com <http://www.bge.com>   so you will need to call BGE
at 800.685.0123.  For more information go to
http://www.bge.com/Pages/default.aspx   

SKYWARN  IMPORTANT TO READ

Although storms can happen anytime, there is more publicity during the
tornado and hurricane season than any other. Trained SKYWARN volunteers know
that severe weather can happen any time day or night in any month of the
year.

Calvert County has several trained Skywarn volunteers who routinely watch
the sky and their instruments so they can provide lifesaving information to
the National Weather Service and their community.

Started in the 1970's SKYWARNR is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000
trained severe weather spotters.

SKYWARN storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the
Nation's first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer
reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious
gift of time-seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

April is here and so is spring.  Now is a good time to get out those SKYWARN
study guides and review some of the information.  Probably the most
important item to remember is: When dealing with the weather, the National
Weather Service has two ways of advising us of impending weather.  A weather
WATCH, and a weather WARNING.  Both bear similar meaning; yet alert us in a
different manner.

A weather WATCH, identifies a relatively large area in which flash floods or
severe storms might occur.  Take note "Might Occur".  Watches are quite
often issued before any severe weather has developed.  Severe thunderstorm
and tornado watches usually include a 140 mile wide, by 200 mile long area.
The WATCH is only an indication of where and when the severe weather
probabilities are highest, and SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH A WARNING.

A weather WARNING, is issued when severe weather has already developed and
has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar.  Take another note
"Already developed and reported". WARNINGS are statements of impending
danger and are issued for relatively small areas near, or in the path of, a
severe storm or downstream from flooding areas.

*I do not have a list of SKYWARN NCS Stations for our area.  Those that are
trained NCS please make yourselves available and start SKYWARN Net if
needed.  Also, NCS please email me with your name, callsign and SKYWARN ID
number so we can get SKYWARN active again.

Hazard Weather Outlook on NWS Sterling website notifies us whether SKYWARN
NETS will be activated.  

*I need names, callsign and SKYWARN ID number of all SKYWARN trained
volunteers 

Remember these differences and be prepared to operate accordingly.  During a
weather WATCH, CALV ARES, and CALV RACES members are asked to monitor the
weather for severe weather.  Be prepared to report any severe weather and
activate the SKYWARN NET, if it occurs in your area.  During a WARNING, the
SKYWARN NET should be activated on the Sunderland Repeater, 146.985 MHz, and
reports from all locations taken.  All Amateurs, especially ARES and RACES
members, are urged to participate.

rWe will follow this procedure till we can develop a better coordination is
developed with local repeaters in SoMd area.  

Any reports of severe weather activity should be reported to the Net Control
Station immediately so the registered Spotters in your area can relay the
information to the National Weather Service Office in Sterling, Virginia.  A
report of severe weather in your area, may save a life, so join in the
SKYWARN Nets when they are activated.  Also be sure that you have the
National Weather Service telephone number handy, 1-800-253-7091 or email NWS
Sterling at LWX-report at noaa.gov <mailto:LWX-report at noaa.gov> 

Copied from National Weather Service
<http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/skywarn/skywarn.htm> 's Forecast Office
Baltimore/Washington >

	
<-- Please call 800 253 7091, rather than email, anything other than rain &
snowfall.

 

73, Dennis N3QHC

EC CALV MD 

SKYWARN ID: CTE 03

n3qhc at arrl.net <mailto:n3qhc at arrl.net>  

 

 

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