Skywarn Schedule

Latest Schedule (check back for updates!)

NOTE: Classes may be canceled on short notice due to severe weather threatening the area. You will be notified via the contact information you registered with. 

When to send a storm report?

When you can do safely, please send us a report when you observe one or more of the following:

• Tornado (confirm rotation)
• Waterspouts (confirm rotation)
• Funnel cloud (confirm rotation)
• Hail (any size)
  • 0.25" or less - Pea
  • 0.50" - Mothball
  • 0.75" - Dime/Penny
  • 0.88" - Nickel
  • 1.00" - Quarter
  • 1.25" - Half Dollar
  • 1.50" - Walnut/Ping Pong
  • 1.75" - Golf Ball
  • 2.00" - Hen Egg
  • 2.50" - Tennis Ball
  • 2.75" - Baseball
  • 3.00" - Tea Cup
  • 4.00" - Grapefruit
  • 4.50" - Softball
• Wind damage.  What is damaged?  Number of trees down?  Are they snapped, uprooted?  Large branches, small branches?
• Flooding Include pictures if you can.  How deep is the water (use what is around you as a guide, i.e water up to the bumpers).
• Snowfall (any amount)
• Rainfall  (Generally 2" or greater in 24 hours -or- 1" in less than an hour. 

Definitions:

• Tornado: A violently rotating column of air, usually pendant to a cumulonimbus, with circulation reaching the ground. It nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and may be accompanied by a loud roaring noise. On a local scale, it is the most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena.
• Severe Thunderstorm: A thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 knots), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter. Structural wind damage may imply the occurrence of a severe thunderstorm. A thunderstorm wind equal to or greater than 40 mph (35 knots) and/or hail of at least ½" is defined as approaching severe.
• Flash Flood: A flood which is caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Also, at times a dam failure can cause a flash flood, depending on the type of dam and time period during which the break occurs.

Please include in your report, the location (town and county) and time/date that the severe weather occurred.

If you can supply a picture of the severe weather you are experiencing, please do.

How to report severe weather:

1) Toll free number 1-800-889-6889 *most preferred way*

2) Email at: wxobs.mhx@noaa.gov (good for pictures and video follow-up).  Call first if possible. 

3) Online

4) Facebook

5) Twitter

SKYWARN Links

Newport District SKYWARN (Eastern North Carolina)

SKYWARN National Page

SKYWARN Spotter Guide

Recorded Training/Class Descriptions 

Basic SKYWARN:  Covers the NWS mission and importance of spotters and ground truth reports.  Topics include thunderstorm hazards, thunderstorm ingredients, thunderstorm life cycle, downbursts, supercells, tornadoes, hail, flash flooding, squall lines, bow echoes, and lightning.  Learn how to report severe weather to the National Weather Service. Presentation Download

Advanced SKYWARN:  It is highly recommended that you take the Basic Class first, as the advanced class is more in depth and may not be suitable for beginners.  We will quickly cover the NWS mission and the importance of spotters and ground truth reports.   We will review and go more in depth on topics such as include thunderstorm hazards, thunderstorm ingredients, thunderstorm life cycle, downbursts, supercells, tornadoes, hail, flash flooding, squall lines, bow echoes, and lightning.  In this advanced class we will go more in depth on topics such as dual polarization radar and radar storm structure as well. Presentation Download

Winter SKYWARN:  Covers the NWS mission and importance of spotters and ground truth reports.  Topics include winter preparedness, winter storm ingredients, nor'easters, historic winter storms in our area, alberta clippers, ice storms, NWS products, measuring snow and ice.  Learn how to report snow and ice to the National Weather Service.

Flood/Tropical SKYWARN:  Covers the NWS mission and importance of spotters and ground truth reports.  Topics include flood and hurricane preparedness, flood and hurricane history in our area, types of flooding, and ways to measure rainfall   Learn how to report rainfall, wind, and storm surge to the National Weather Service. Presentation Download

CoCoRaHS Training:  Learn all about how to measure precipitation through the CoCoRaHS program and how to register for the program.  Topics include setting up your rain gauge, locating a good place for your gauge, how to read the gauge, and how to submit your reports online. Presentation Download 

Weather Basics: The focus will be on 5th grade weather standards including topics such as: seasonal differences across the world, high and low pressure, warm and cold fronts, the jet stream, the water cycle, climate and weather, hurricanes, and weather safety.  While the focus will be on 5th grade weather standards, ANYBODY is welcome to join us. Presentation Download

Hurricane Preparedness:  Learn about the history of hurricanes in our area along with general preparedness.  We will explain why you should focus on all of the impacts of a cyclone and NOT just the category.  We will cover what the forecast cone means and doesn't mean along with how to prepare each hurricane season. Presentation Download

What is Climate Change?  Learn the difference between climate and weather, and how our climate is changing. Learn about causes of climate change and possible outcomes, including local impacts to Eastern North Carolina. Presentation Download 

Tornado/Severe Weather Safety:  Learn safety and preparedness tips for severe weather. Presentation Download 

Rip Current and Water Safety:  Learn safety and preparedness tips for rip currents and water safety. 

Basic SKYWARN (Parts 1 through 7)

Watch all 7 videos and then fill out this form. 

Winter SKYWARN

Watch video below and then fill out this form.