Skywarn Reminder: Hurricane Season begins 01 June 2020

Posted on by Russ Roberts

Here’s the latest Skywarn Hawaii reminder from Kevin Bogan (AH6QO)–Skywarn HAM Coordinator for Hawaii.

Views expressed in this update are those of the reporters and correspondents.

Content supplied by Kevin Bogan (AH6QO).

Accessed on 02 June 2020, 0205 UTC, Post 1464.

Source (email message from Kevin Bogan):

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1xojtkvhd0pl8/?&th=17271f9a63f1e958&v=c

Please click link or scroll down to read the full message.

  • Skywarn reminder: June 1, 2020 is the beginning of the Hurricane Season in the Central Pacific. It ends on November 30, 2020.
  • Why Skywarn? Because the Skywarn Spotters provide valuable and timely ground-truth to NWS allowing the meteorologists to issue Warnings and Advisories in a timely manner to save lives and property.
  • Near- or below-normal season predicted for the Central Pacific: Read the whole document here. Remember: “it only takes one.” Get ready today, be ready tomorrow.  
  • GOT QUESTIONS? June 2, 2020, Please join the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) “Talk Story” by registering at: register.gotowebinar.com/register/4911336329128216588. This is a GOTOWEBINAR presentation online sponsored by AINAHAINAPREPARED. The flyer is attached.
  • Skywarn Training on the Web: Our Local Honolulu Forecast Office (HFO) has created a Youtube presentation that provides training in Severe Weather Spotting.  Find it at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlttvKlyPFk&t=5s then fill out the form and mail it to: SKYWARN PROGRAM, National Weather Service, 2525 Correa Road, Suite #250, Honolulu, HI 96822 to receive your Spotter number.
  • HOW TO REPORT A SEVERE WEATHER REPORT (SWR): Visit our local Skywarn page here to find the exact criteria that needs to be met before calling it in. This information is taken from the Skywarn page: To Call In A Report:
  • (808) 973-5286
    What to Report to Us:
    ANY tornado, funnel, or waterspout
    Heavy rain at a rate of an inch per hour or more lasting more than 15 minutes
    ANY type of flooding that is threatening or causing damage
    ANY hail
    High winds strong enough to cause property damage
    ANY weather related death, injury, or significant damage

    Separately from the NWS Skywarn Program is what the NWS calls “HAM” effort provided by the Amateur Radio community.  Those Skywarn Severe Weather Spotters with their spotter numbers and other weather-concerned Amateur Radio operators may report their Severe Weather Report (SWR) to the Skywarn HAM station when the HAM station has been activated by the NWS HFO. The Skywarn HAM operators will pass on the information to the meteorologists. Please be sure to use the proper format to speed its delivery.

  • Please remember that the primary method of reporting your SWR is by phone directly to NWS. The Skywarn HAM station may provide the service during times of normal communications and is especially important when normal communications are impacted or disrupted.
  • The format is HEADER, METRICS, IMPACTS:
    • Format (same as what you would do on the telephone call to NWS):
      • call sign
      • first name
      • Spotter number (if you have one, if none, skip it and go to location)
      • location of observation
      • time of observation
      • Metrics (no guessing! No estimating. If nothing measured, move on to Impacts)
      • Impacts
      • On the radio, after establishing contact with the Skywarn Operator, it may sound like: “AH6QO, Kevin, 430, observed Hahaione Valley at 1433 HST, Heavy rain rate measured as 0.50 inches for 15 minutes and continuing. Impacts ponding on roads and yards, streams rising rapidly.” REMEMBER TO SPEAK SLOWLY since it is being written down.
  • If activated and prior to impacts being reported in the Hawaiian Islands, operators may wish to practice. This practice will consist of a SIMULATED Severe Weather Report (SWR) being passed. Please be sure to announce it as SIMULATED and prior to and immediately after passing the SIMULATED SWR say, “This is an exercise message.”  Since the focus is on SWR, “Fair Weather” reports are greatly discouraged and the operator may be asked to modify their “Fair Weather” report to meet the criteria and then passed as a SIMULATED SWR. If there is any doubt that your SWR may be misinterpreted as simulated, then identify it as REAL-WORLD. For instance, if you just passed a SIMULATED SWR and you have observed conditions meeting the criteria for a SWR, Then calling the Skywarn Operator may sound like, “Control, this is AH6QO with a REAL-WORLD Severe Weather Report.” 
  • COVID-19: Wear a mask, maintain social distancing, wash your hands often.  You know the drill. 
  • Until further notice, Skywarn Activations will be accomplished from home or other locations until NWS allows non-NWS Staff back into their offices. Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.
 
  • If you have any questions regarding the Skywarn HAM effort, please contact me, Kevin Bogan, AH6QO, Skywarn HAM Coordinator for Hawaii (kevin.bogan@gmail.com) or Chuck Malefyt, KH6DL, kh6dl.radio@gmail.com Deputy Skywarn HAM Coordinator for Hawaii.
Please forward this reminder appropriately. 
I apologize if you receive this more than once. 
Kevin Bogan, AH6QO
Skywarn HAM Coordinator for Hawaii

Hawaii Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
*Cooperation*Communication*Coordination*Collaboration
Cell: 808.778.4697
Other: (720) 235-8172
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For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio news and information, please check this blog daily.  News feeds are updated daily and weekly.  Thanks for joining us today.
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Aloha es 73 de Russell Roberts (KH6JRM)
Public Information Coordinator
Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section
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https://paper.li/f-1576465810 (breaking Amateur/Ham Radio News)
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