[PPRAANet] SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2017

[John Bloodgood]

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2017
   
On 1 thru 2 December, ham radio operators from Colorado Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) Regions 4, 5 and parts of Region 2  as well as several amateur radio clubs descended on the National Weather Service (NWS) Pueblo office to take part in SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2017.  Ham radio operations began at 5 PM on Friday and went through 5 PM on Saturday.  

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the NWS and the American Radio Relay League.  It celebrates the contributions that SKYWARN™ volunteer weather observers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.  Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the SKYWARN™ volunteers across the country.  The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.  During SKYWARN™ Recognition Day, operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world. 

This year’s event saw dozens of operators visit the NWS Pueblo office for tours, meet folks from all over southern Colorado, and to operate various radios.  It was also a special event because fellow ham radio operator and longtime NWS Pueblo forecaster and outreach coordinator Tom Magnuson, KB0ZWX, is retiring this year.  Tom has been giving us our annual weather spotter training for many years.

This year, Colorado ARES Region 5 brought out the Rocky Mountain Ham “QRV” Quick Reaction Vehicle/Van, the Pueblo Amateur Radio Club brought their small trailer, and Pikes Peak ARES had a Go-Box portable system set up.  Voice, CW, and APRS data modes were used to make contact with 32 other NWS stations and many non-NWS stations, earning a “Whole Gale” participation level certificate.  

Some pictures from the event can be found on the Pikes Peak ARES Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakARES  (You do not need a Facebook account to look).  

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2017 was a great event and we certainly hope that in December 2018 we can do even better.  
 



 John Bloodgood, KD0SFY
 Emergency Coordinator & Public Information Officer 
 Region 2 District 2, Colorado ARES (Pikes Peak ARES)
 Follow Pikes Peak ARES at: 
 https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakARES
 https://twitter.com/pikespeakARES
 https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8258915
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