The Northwest Ohio Skywarn™ Net is activated whenever the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning, Tornado Watch, Severe Thunderstorm watch or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

The net might be brought up in standby if thunderstorms anywhere in NW Ohio start to approach severe limits. Or if Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warnings are in effect for counties surrounding NW Ohio where these storms might move into our area. In these two cases, the net might be activated into standby status even if no watches or warnings are in effect for NW Ohio.

The NWS will hopefully be in touch with the net before any thunderstorms reach severe limits. However, due to the fast-building nature of some thunderstorms, this will not always be possible.

Skywarn™ is NOT to be used for obtaining general weather information. It is ONLY to be used TO REPORT heavy or severe weather. The net control operators will keep the net informed as to what is happening. Listen for a few minutes to hear what condition the net is in, and that will tell you what's happening. If you need quicker information or a general weather forcast, please tune to NOAA weather radio for countinuous broadcasts.

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What to Report:

Condition RED : Tornado Warning

1. TORNADO
2. FUNNEL CLOUD
3. WALL CLOUD
4. DAMMAGING WINDS (over 50mph, sustained)
5. HAIL LARGER THAN 3/4IN
   Spotters otherwise should maintain radio silence!!

Condition YELLOW : Severe Thunderstorm Warning

All of the above, plus
1. DAMAGING WINDS
2. HAIL (with size reported)
3. FLOODING (Over curbs or roadways)

Condition GREEN : Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch

All of the above, plus
1. MEASURED RAINFALL
2. GUST FRONT ARIVAL
3. APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS
4. TORRENTIAL RAIN (with near 0 visability)

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Please Note:

Nowhere in this list is there any mention that we want reports of

"the sun is out here", or "it has quit (or is not) raining here"If the net control operators want these types of reports, they will specifically ask for them.

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This is a link to an ADVANCED guide There is also a nice refresher course for trained spotters.

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To become a trained spotter, please contact Gary Garnet at the Cleveland NWSFO for current dates and times of training in Northern Ohio and NW Pennsylvania. Or you can visit the Spotter training calender located within the Cleveland NWS Homepage.

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Here are a couple more links that might be useful!

Winter Weather S.O.P.

Lucas County Amateur Radio Emergency Services
This link is what we are all about! Serving others in the time of need!

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Go to NW OHIO SKYWARN™ OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE if you did not start there!