[nrv-hams] A GOOD weather event report

[Carter Craigie]

Hi again, everybody,

 

Here is a copy of an email I just sent to Mitch Davis WQ3C, vice president
of VTARA. I hope you will find this helpful:

 

A message to the NWS's SKYWARN Desk (or to me at 540-250-8184, if I can't
make it into the NWS) need only have the following information:

 

1. Your name and callsign (and the latter preferably given in standard
phonetics).

 

2. Your present location (a street address is best, with town, state); your
closest intersection; your mile marker if on an interstate; and so forth.

 

3. What event you are reporting, for example, "Water covering the road, and
I can't see the road surface;" "Trees bending almost 60 degrees, with wind
coming from Northwest to Southeast;" "Snow or rain falling at a rate of 3"
per hour, MEASURED, or ESTIMATED;" "Barn roof lifted by wind and blown 30
feet away."

 

4. The time the event occurred, and when you made your observation and
report.

 

5. A phone number where the forecaster can call you back.

 

These five items can be delivered easily, especially if you write them down
first, and then make your report based on what notes you have written.

 

I hope this helps. Keeping it simple and straightforward helps the SKYWARN
Desk operator (it could be me or someone you know!).  AND it helps the
forecaster who wants this information. By the way, the forecasters really
appreciate SKYWARN reports; they make the job ever so much easier, and they
can put out ACCURATE warnings to the public, based on what information you
give them!

 

73,

 

Carter N3AO