The Skywarn™ networks take many different forms in different parts of the country. Typically, trained volunteer spotters report into a local operations center and these reports are then relayed to the National Weather Service. Reports are delivered to this local center by Ham radio, telephone, CB and business band radios and from police and fire departments.

The NW Ohio Skywarn™ network was formed in May of 1965 as a responce to the Palm Sunday tornado that hit NW Ohio. The original name of the net was the Tri-State Weather Net and, as the name implies, it covered a large area. Coverage area of this net has changed many times over the years. The net was started by the station chief at the old Toledo Weather Bureau who also happened to be a ham radio operator.

The NW Ohio regional center is located in the Emergency Services Building in downtown Toledo. NW Ohio Skywarn™ is primarily made up of trained volunteer ham radio operators and local police and fire departments. Some counties have local county-wide networks that collect information from the spotters in that county and then send reports into the regional net. Operators from other areas radio in reports directly to the regional center. This data is quicky relayed by the regional center to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio.

Training is available for both new and old spotters to define and identify severe weather, wall clouds and tornadoes. Training class times and locations vary, as these classes are held throughout NW Ohio. These classes take about 1 to 2 hours to complete and are taught by the National Weather Service.

Steve Ashenfelter, N8XSF, AEC-Skywarn™

Chris Taylor, N8WGB, AEC-Skywarn™

Karl Erbland, K8ARL, District 1 EC