Skywarn

SKYWARN^™

SKYWARN^™ is a national effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies with an expanding network of trained weather spotters. The services performed by SKYWARN^™ spotters have saved many lives.

The National Weather Service has a number of devices for detecting severe thunderstorms. Included in these are Doppler radar, satellite, and lightning detection networks. However, the most important tool for observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the storm spotter.

By providing observations, SKYWARN^™ spotters assist National Weather Service members in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local warning program.

The National Weather Service office in Buffalo participates in the annual ARRL - SKYWARN^™ special event. For details on the national event, QSL instructions and the rest of the statistics, check out the Special event homepage.

NWS Buffalo SKYWARN^™Training Sessions

SKYWARN^™ is a nationwide program of spotters that report severe weather to the National Weather Service. Anyone can become a SKYWARN^™ spotter for the National Weather Service, all you have to do is attend one of our Spotter Training Sessions. There is no charge for the training.

SKYWARN^™ training sessions are held throughout our area of responsibility based on demand. SKYWARN training sessions for Severe Convective Weather (Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Flash Floods, etc.) are conducted from March through May. SKYWARN training sessions for Winter Weather are conducted from September through November. The basic training session provides a brief overview to the National Weather Service (the organization and our responsibilities), the equipment we use (including capabilities and limitations), and basic severe weather meteorology (including how thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes form). Training sessions last about two hours.

SKYWARN training sessions for Winter Weather are conducted from September through November.

Attendees are instructed what types of severe weather the National Weather Service is interested in hearing about and are given an 800 telephone number for 24 hour access make reports directly to the NWS forecasters.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Fries -- michael.j.fries@noaa.gov -- WFO Buffalo, Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Jon Hitchcock -- jon.hitchcock@noaa.gov -- WFO Buffalo, SKYWARN Program Coordinator

Spring 2025 Training Schedule

Note: Spring training courses focus on severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, severe weather safety, and reporting to the NWS.

Note: Additional classes are in the process of being scheduled, check back later for more locations and times!

All of the scheduled training sessions will cover the same material

Link to NWS Privacy Policy: www.weather.gov/privacy

DATE	TIME	COUNTY	LOCATION	ORGANIZATION
4/1/2025	6:30 PM	Allegany	Bible Baptist Church 43 West Main St Friendship, NY 14739	Allegany Hope Click HERE To Register
4/14/2025	7:00 PM	Erie	Erie County Fire Training Academy 3359 Broadway Ave Buffalo, NY 14227	Erie County ARES/RACES Click HERE to Register
4/29/2025	7:00 PM	Online	Virtual Online	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY Click HERE To Register
4/30/2025	11:00 AM	Online	Virtual Online	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY Click HERE to Register
5/8/2025	7:00 PM	Online	Virtual Online	National Weather Service Buffalo, NY Click HERE to Register
5/13/2025	5:00 PM	Monroe	Winton Branch Library 611 Winton Rd North Rochester, NY 14609	City of Rochester Department of Emergency Management Click HERE to Register