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Shiawassee County - Skywarn Information

Skywarn is the network of Radio Amateur operators that provide information to the National Weather Service [NWS]. The NWS utilizes the locally reported information in doing it's job. One of those jobs is to output severe weather watch and warning information to radio / TV outlets for the community they serve. When you see or hear details about a severe storm condition, that information started as an amateur radio report to the NWS in most cases! To repeat, no ham radio means no reports. The accuracy and timing of this information is very critical for public safety. Thus the training and participation of 'local hams' is a very important part of this warning system.

Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz)

The Skywarn Net meets at 7:00 P.M. on every Monday and additionally as required by weather events on the 2 meter N8DVH repeater (analog FM). The weekly net check-ins provide confidence that the system is and will work when required. If you are Shiawassee ham, please consider assisting our local support.

Skywarn Net Operation Manual ~ Used for reporting to CMEN-MICON to K8DTX NOAA Weather.

The ARES/Skywarn team uses the MICON system "Net Operation Procedures" manual to provide the correct data in an efficient manner. This is the method used used for the radio Skywarn net operations in the Shiawassee county area and for the reporting data into the MICON network. The MICON network is headed at the DTX NOAA weather office [K8DTX] in White Lake. Please printout the manual and have available for your usage. Again, the Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz) on the N8DVH Repeater in Owosso.

Training ~ Participants are required to have Skywarn Training (provided by NWS at a local location annually) and maintain proficiency by attending a class once every two years.

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Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator [EC] for Shiawassee County (Communications):

For the most current SHIAWASSEE COUNTY {local} information, contact Phil Bates.

Phil Bates, AC8FW     Email via: ac8fw (at) arrl.net (replace 'at' with @)        Phone (cell) is [810] 919-9906

Phil AC8FWis Shiawassee county EC and leads the coordination of ARES, RACES & Skywarn Communications for Shiawassee county (normally net control).

The county has two assistant ECs, Kevin Middleton, K8MID, and Don Warner, WB8GUS. See SARA Officers for contact information.

These three operators are the authorized representatives to check into the MICON net for Shiawassee County. MICON uses the station, K8DTX at the NOAA White Lake weather station for reporting into the NWS system.

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Central Michigan Emergency Network

Central Michigan Emergency Network, INC (CMEN) is a non-profit group of independent repeater owners that have pooled their knowledge and personal resources for the betterment of amateur radio emergency communications in Michigan. MICON-DTX uses this network of repeaters to ensure connectivity through out CWA. CMEN offers both 70 cm band voice and DMR voice. The linked repeaters used by MICON-DTX include the following key stations:

Community	Ham Call	Freq. MHz
Bancroft	N8IES	442.625
Chelsea	KD8IEL	443.575
Detroit	KC8LTS	442.175
Frankenmuth	KB8SWR	444.025
Holly	W8FSM	442.350
Mayville	KB8ZUZ	443.775
Mt Clemens	KC8UMP	443.625

Reporting Methods:

Shiawassee County Skywarn Net: 147.02 +600 (PL 100.0 Hz) ~ Meets at 7:00 P.M. on Mondays and as required by weather events.

  "Other" Methods:

     FACEBOOK: NWSDetroit

     Twitter @NWSDetroit

     Winlink: K8DTX@winlink.org

     NWS Chat: Cell Phone App

     email: nwslidtx@noaa.gov Email Link  {Least Preferred method}

NWS - Skywarn Information

Skywarn activities are managed by the National Weather Service [NWS] and for Shiawassee County is directly handled by:

   White Lake NWS
   9200 White Lake Rd.
   White Lake , MI 48436
   Phone [248] 625-3309   FAX [248] 625-4834

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Reporting Criteria ~ Includes Winter Weather

Spotters are asked to report any occurence of severe weather. The reports are used to better understand the weather below the radar images and help in understanding the radar and satelite images. The following events should be reported on an emergency traffic basis on the Ham Networks and gotten to the NWS immediately.

• TORNADOS, WATER SPOUTS, & FUNNEL CLOUDS.
• THUNDERSTORM WINDS producing damage. See table below.
• WIND GUSTS - Non-Thunderstorm of 40+ MPH or Damage Caused by Strong Winds
• HAIL - pea sized or larger. See table below.
• LIGHTENING that produces damage or injury.
• FLOODING, Ice Jams, Bankfull Rivers or Streams. Water covering roads or property (to a building).
• RAIN - Report amounts of an inch (1.0") or greater in 24 hours.
• FREEZING RAIN and SLEET - Estimate the amount of glazing (ie. 1/10 inch; 1/4 inch; 1/2 inch - Measure top of ice on object.
• SNOWFALL - Report when 1.0" has fallen, then each additional 2 inches, and a storm total. Need 12 hour totals ending at 7:00 AM and PM.

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Reporting Reference Guides

The various Skywarn manuals and guides are uploaded onto the SARA google group used by the club. Please go there for the current latest copies.

Wind Scale

MPH	Description
25 to 31	Large branches in motion; whistling heard in overhead wires
32 to 38	Whole trees in motion; inconvenience walking through wind
39 to 54	Twigs break off trees; wind generally impeded progress
55 to 72	Damage to chimmneys, TV antennas; pushes over small rooted trees
73 to 112	Peels surface off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes overturned; moving cars pushed off road
113 to 157	Roofs torn off houses; cars li

 

Hail Correlation (Sizes)

Pea	0.25 inch			Half Dollar	1.25 inches			Baseball	2.75 inches
Plain M&M	0.50 inch			Ping Pong Ball	1.50 icnhes			Large Apple	3.00 inches
Penny	0.75 inch			Golf Ball	1.75 inches			Softball	4.00 inches
Nickel	0.88 inch			Lime	2.00 Inches			Grapefruit	4.50 inches
Quarter	1.00 inch			Tennis Ball	2.50 inches			CD/DCD	4.75/5 inches

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Some Skywarn WEB links of interest are:

Location/Level	Link/Information
Local	National Weather Service Detroit Homepage: http://www.weather.gov/dtx/
Local	NWS Chat: http://nwschat.weather.gov
Local	Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov
Local	NWS Detroit/Pontiac Home Page (White Lake Site): http://www.weather.gov/dtx/
Michigan	National Weather Service Detroit Homepage: http://www.weather.gov/
National	NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration: http://www.noaa.gov/
Michigan	Lansing - SKYWARN Lansing Area/Ingham County SKYWARN http://www.lansingarpsc.com/skywarn.html
Michigan	Genesee ARPSC http://www.gc-arpsc.org/
Michigan	Grand Rapids NWS http://www.weather.gov/grr/
Michigan	St. Clair County - SKYWARN http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/emerg_mngmt/skywarn.aspx
Regional	Midwest Severe Storm Tracking/Response Center: http://www.midwestsstrc.org/
Michigan	Michigan N.O.A.A. WX Radio Hazard Stations - https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/ccov.php?State=MI
Training	What is Skywarn? http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/
Training	National Weather Service Safety Education Page: http://www.weather.gov/safety
Training	Role of the Skywarn Spotter: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_module.php?id=817
National	Storm Prepardness: http://www.readt.gov/
National	Spotter's Guide ~ Weather Spotter's Guide: http://www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/downloads/spottersguide.pdf
National	Spotter's Glossary: Spotter terms
National	Weather Prediction Center: http://www.ncep.noaa.gov/
National	NOAA Madius Surface Weather Map [CWOP Results]: NOAA Madis Surface Weather Observation Map
National	Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
National	National Centers for Environmental Information: http://www.ncel.noaa.gov/
National	Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL): http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/

 

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Weather Related Sites

Includes Hurricane Links

Does not impact Michigan too much, but you need to steer clear of their operations and it can be interesting to listen in.

Click the name and it will take you to a Net's "WEB Site", for further information.

Weather Links ~ By N4TYV a very large list of resources (several hundred 'Quicklinks').~ Weather and Hurricane Links (2014) from Randy Johnson, N4TYV

Hurricane Frequencies ~ By Hugh Stegman NV6H ~ Many places to listen.

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Some Hurricane Nets of interest are:

Name	Frequency	Time	Some Information
VOiP SKYWARN/Hurricane Net	Echolink WX-TALK; IRLP Reflector 9219	0000 UTC Sundays	A weekly Prep Net is held on Sundays at 0000 UTC, which is Saturday evenings for most of North America. Join by connecting to the EchoLink WX-TALK conference server, IRLP Reflector 9219 or if necessary to one of the backup systems. Monitor the net during hurricanes and other major severe weather events.
Caribbean Emergency & Weather Net	3.815 MHz	Daily 1030Z and 2230Z	The Caribbean Emergency and Weather Net was established in 1958 by Colonel Henry Frew, KV4BZ, for the purpose of having a general calling frequency for the Caribbean Islands and their North and South American friends. The net's original name was the Antilles Emergency Net.
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network [SATERN]	14.265 MHz		The purpose of the SATERN net is to support the Salvation Army operations in local, regional and international disaster situations, as well as other functions.
Hurricane Watch Net	14.325 MHz (day)7.268 MHz (night)		Activated whenever a hurricane is within 300 statute miles of expected land-fall. Disseminates storm information and relays meteorological data to National Hurricane Center via embedded NHC station WX4NHC. Also relays post-storm damage reports and other relevant information.
Intercontinental Net	14.300 MHz	0700 EDT	Provides a means of emergency communications to any location where the normal means are disrupted by local disaster such as fire, earthquake, storms, floods and terrorist activity.
Maritime Mobile Service Net	14.300 MHz	1200 PM to 1000 PM EDT	The network acts as a weather beacon for ships during periods of severe weather and regularly repeats high seas and tropical weather warnings and bulletins from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
14.300 MHz Net Information	14.300 MHz		More information about nets on 14.300 MHz. (Usually Maritime Mobiles)

Usually not critical for Michigan residents, however a great listening opportunity to hear how Emergency Operations can operate.

 

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