Skywarn is sponsored by the National Weather Service (NWS). A person
can become a Skywarn spotter after completing a free three-hour course.
An Amateur Radio station at the Jacksonville National Weather Service
Office, WX4JAX, activates during severe weather to receive spotter reports
from Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. WX4JAX is managed by the
Jacksonville Skywarn Assn. Meetings are quarterly. For more details on
Skywarn, contact Lewis Jolly via
w4ltj@arrl.net or Mike Mauldin, WD4AOG via
wd4aog@yahoo.com
Skywarn Spotters
If you have received Skywarn training in the
past and are still interested in participating as a spotter, we need
updated information on how to get in touch with you. The National Weather
Service is compiling an updated roster. To be included, visit the National
Weather Service Jacksonville online at
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/spotter_update.shtml .
This list will include all spotters in the
Jacksonville warning area which means we need information from those
living in counties outside of Duval as well. The list will be used to
contact you for reports in the event severe weather is in your area.
I would also like to compile an E-mail list in order to keep you informed
of Skywarn meetings and other activities. Send your E-mail address to me
at wd4aog@yahoo.com.
We'll probably be looking for you when the spring storms come this way.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Michael Mauldin, WD4AOG
President, Skywarn
Net Controls &
WX4JAX Operators Needed
When the WX4JAX ham station at the Jacksonville National Weather
Service Office is activated, spotter reports are fed to WX4JAX to assist
meteorologists in evaluating weather conditions so that timely warnings
can be issued.
A Skywarn Net is activated on the W4IZ 146.7/444.4 MHz Repeater System.
WX4JAX operators also scan other repeaters to gather input when
meteorologists request input from a specific county.
Reportable events include hail (penny size or larger), fallen trees, heavy
rain (2 inches or more per hour) that causes flooding, heavy winds (50 mph
or more), and tornadoes.
Additional volunteers are needed to go to the NWS office near JIA to work
in 3 to 6 hour shifts when severe weather threatens.
If you can assist at NWS, please contact Mike Mauldin, WD4AOG via
wd4aog@yahoo.com so that entrance
credentials can be issued.
Also, Net Control Stations (NCS) are needed to operate from their home
when severe weather is indicated. Contact Mike to volunteer or attend the
next NOFARS meeting.
Training and assistance are available. Spots are available for both
experienced net controls and for newcomers who would like to learn more
about public service radio networks.
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