Skywarn™

In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages.  To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is reporting on severe local thunderstorms. In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.

Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters form the nation's first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts have given your family and neighbors the precious gift of time--minutes that can help save lives.

NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches and nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are encouraged to become a spotter.

• Understand the how the NWS Integrated Warning System works and how the spotter fits into this system
• Identify the ingredients needed for organized thunderstorms
• Recognize the visual and environmental clues suggestive of severe weather
• Distinguish between legitimate clues and non-significant features associated with severe weather
• Learn about the different types of winter weather and how to measure each
• Learn how to stay safe when storm spotting
• Learn proper storm reporting procedures

HOW TO REPORT:

Only when it's safe to so, please use one of the following ways to contact NWS Albany with your storm report:

• Email: alb.stormreport@noaa.gov
• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Local Storm Report Google Form
• CoCoRaHS Significant Weather Report (Hail, High Snow/Rain Rates)
• NWSChat (For Local Emergency Managers, HAM Radio Operators, Media)

Remember to include the following information:

• WHAT did you see?
• WHERE did you see it? 
  • ​Latitude & Longitude (most preferred)
  • Road/street or nearest intersection & city/zip code
  • Distance/direction from the nearest city (e.g., 4 NE Saratoga)
• WHEN did you see it? What is the approximate time and duration?​

Report the location/approximate location of the event. Be sure to distinguish clearly between where you are and where the event is thought to be happening (i.e., "I'm 5 miles north of Saratoga Springs. The tornado looks to be about 5 miles to my northwest"). Be sure that reports that are relayed through multiple sources carry the time of the event, NOT the report time.

Any other details that are important - How long did it last? Direction of travel? Was there damage? etc.