The WX5FWD SKYWARN™ team are volunteer radio operator liaisons for the Fort Worth National Weather Service (NWS) North Texas SKYWARN™ Spotters. During SKYWARN events, you are reporting information to our team and the the NWS warning forecasters.

Weather spotters provide what's called "ground truth" to the National Weather Service and emergency weather management. Spotters are needed because, while radar is very good at helping the National Weather Service see what's going on in the upper atmosphere, it's unable to detect what's actually happening on the ground because of the curvature of the Earth. Knowing the "ground truth" about a weather event from the location can be the deciding factor to issue a warning.

NWS Update: Thunderstorm Potential - Friday

From: National Weather Service, Fort Worth
Date: Monday, 3 Feb 2011 9:55 CST

Good morning,

We have low clouds, fog, drizzle, and rain this morning, but later today there will be the potential for strong thunderstorms across much of North Texas. A short PDF presentation has been attached to depict the areas that could be impacted later today.

OVERVIEW

A strong storm system is moving through the Rocky Mountain States today, and is responsible for the areas of low clouds, drizzle, and beneficial rainfall across portions of North Texas this morning. As of this morning, a tornado watch is in effect for areas to the north and west, covering parts of Oklahoma and areas beween Vernon and Childress. As the main storm system moves east, we are expecting a line of thunderstorms to develop during late afternoon and evening hours. Rainfall will continue until then, with the bulk of the severe weather potential occuring this evening. We will have plenty of low and mid level moisture and lift to produce thunderstorms. The limiting factors could be the amount of available wind shear and instability.

Joplin Tornado Assessment

Please review the assessment of the 2011 Joplin tornado from the NWS Service Assessments.

Preface

On May 22, 2011, one of the deadliest tornadoes in United States history struck Joplin, Missouri, directly killing 158 people and injuring over 1,000. The tornado, rated EF-5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with maximum winds over 200 mph, affected a significant part of a city with a population of more than 50,000 and a population density near 1,500 people per square mile. As a result, the Joplin tornado was the first single tornado in the United States to result in over 100 fatalities since the Flint, Michigan, tornado of June 8, 1953.

Because of the rarity and historical significance of this event, a regional Service Assessment team was formed to examine warning and forecast services provided by the National Weather Service. Furthermore, because of the large number of fatalities that resulted from a warned tornado event, this Service Assessment will provide additional focus on dissemination, preparedness, and warning response within the community as they relate to NWS services.

Service Assessments provide a valuable contribution to ongoing efforts by the National Weather Service to improve the quality, timeliness, and value of our products and services. Findings and recommendations from this assessment will improve techniques, products, services, and information provided to our partners and the American public.

Lynn P. Maximuk
Director, Central Region
National Weather Service
July 2011

SKYWARN CWA - NWS Spotter Radio Access

Would you like to change any of these counties to green? Do you know why Bell and Fannin are green, when they are not within direct radio range of the NWS office? Help us provide a radio link from the storm spotters in your area to the Fort Worth National Weather Service forecasters. We may be able to assist in setting up a radio link with your local SKYWARN repeater. Direct, real time reports from spotters are

SKYWARN Recognition Day QSL Log

We have created a log of 339 contacts with a link to display a QSL card for printing. Click on the Read More to display the QSL Log page.

2011 SKYWARN® Recognition Day

NWS Special EventNWS Special Event

2011 SKYWARN® Recognition Day

Fort Worth NWS CWA The 2011 SKYWARN® Recognition Day 24 hour event is active December 2, 18:00 (6PM) until Saturday, December 3rd, 18:00 (6 PM) CST

SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). It celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day, SKYWARN radio operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across the world. Information regarding SKYWARN Recognition Day is updated at hamradio.noaa.gov, and for the Fort Worth office at wx5fwd.org.

As in previous years, North Texas SKYWARN Amateur Radio spotters are encouraged to participate in SKYWARN Recognition Day, and make radio contacts with NWS offices and other SKYWARN ham radio spotter groups. 

SKYWARN volunteers may visit the NWS Saturday. This is a special invitation to  volunteers in counties where the NWS has limited or no spotter contacts.  See

Syndicate content