WEATHER OUTLOOK NET — SkyHubLink System

Providing Ground Truth Under the Radar

Weekdays at 1pm MT

Tune into this net weekdays at 1pm MT on your SkyHubLink repeater or link in via the many modes available. The Weather Outlook Net focuses on SKYWARN^® storm spotters in eastern UT, Colorado, eastern Wyoming, and the Nebraska Panhandle—within the auspices of the NWS offices with whom we are Core Partners (see map & link below). The net provides the latest, up-to-the-minute, detailed information to storm spotters within this region.

During especially active weather, we air critical NWS updates between 8-10am, at ~4pm MT, and at any other time when the public may be under severe threat.

Repeater & System Owners Partnership

We invite all repeater & system owners to partner with the CSWN by making your repeaters available for linking during SKYWARN^® operations in the CO Severe Wx Room. This will enable us to better serve the NWS and ensure public safety. Linking is usually accomplished with AllStar but several other modes are available. Contact the CSWN STARS Team for information.

When the Severe Weather Room is Activated

When the Colorado Severe Weather Room is activated, announcements to that effect go out on the SkyHubLink Repeater System, participating repeaters, and on the Telegram chatroom 'Colorado Severe Weather Network'. Eventually, storm operations will be migrated to Ham.Live.

COLORADO SEVERE WEATHER Operations ROOM

Reflector XLX303A

First to Activate, Last to Deactivate

Active when our region is under threat. We invite everyone to participate in Severe Storm Operations—including ARES, RACES, and Spotter Network members.

The Colorado Severe Weather Network (CSWN) segregates repeaters within an outbreak area into this Severe Weather Room. The Room supports dialog between Net Control, SKYWARN^® Storm Spotters, and the public. Timely NWS warnings and severe information is provided by the Net Control Operator, along with storm evolution, tracks, etc.

SKYWARN^® spotters radio in or direct message severe reports (and photos) to Net Control and those, in turn, are immediately relayed to the appropriate NWS office via a secure NOAA platform.

Severe Room Activation Types

Every effort is made to avoid interfering with conversations & nets on the SkyHubLink System and other repeaters.

You may hear periodic NWS warning or advisory announcements. This does not mean the system is in a net mode. If an informational, informal, or formal net is activated, it will usually be within a Severe Weather Room and announced periodically. If you aren't sure, simply call out and ask.

Informational

No net is yet activated. NWS announcements air as needed and there may be weather conversations. The SkyHubLink and/or the Severe Weather Room operate normally. Upon Severe Weather Room activation, the Severe Weather Watch Network may be set to an informal or a directed net.

Informal Nets

Occur in a Severe Weather Room and are most common. A Net Coordinator will be present. The Room is for all weather use and station-to-station traffic. We ask that you keep transmissions shorter. Severe announcements take place, along with heads-ups on developments, and periodic conversations about events. Severe reports may be trafficked. Leave at least 5-7 seconds between transmissions for priority traffic to break in. End each transmission with your callsign.

Formal, Directed Nets

Used during significant, widespread severe weather. During directed nets, all communications must be passed through the Net Control Station. Traffic will usually be limited to priority and severe reports, severe observations, and Warnings information.

Always adhere to guidance from the Network Coordinator or NC. All amateur radio operators across Colorado and Wyoming are encouraged to participate. Ask questions, report observations, and further your understanding of severe weather.

The CSWN Provides Two Telegram Rooms

(free signup)

What We Monitor

We experience many types of extreme weather: tornadoes, hail, microbursts, damaging winds, flash and areal flooding, wildfires, droughts, heatwaves, and blizzards. You're most likely to hear activity during the summer severe storm season. However, significant or large-scale winter storms also warrant net activation.

SKYWARN activations are intended to collect, analyze, and traffic severe reports to your Weather Service office as efficiently and quickly as possible. Real-time National Weather Service and NOAA info (warnings & extreme weather) is aired in the Colorado Severe Weather Room and is occasionally aired across the SkyHubLink system when necessary. Also, we strive to further your understanding of severe phenomena.

Severe Weather Net Operating Procedure

When checking in to a net, please do the following:

• Turn on either APRS or Spotter Network beaconing. Spotter Network probably works best. (No worries if you don't have these).
• Clearly state your callsign twice.
• NWS Spotter Number if you have one.
• Location—current and anticipated.
• Clear every transmission with your callsign.
• Allow 5-7 seconds between transmissions for priority to break-in.
• Advise NC of all location changes.
• NC will frequently address you by your Suffix, usually phonetically.
• ALWAYS advise NC when you are checking out of the net, arriving home, or QRT!

KEEP CALM, BREATHE DEEP, WAIT 30-60 SECONDS, WATCH

Reporting Criteria

Net Control is your guide as to what/what not to report. This depends on how deep we are into storm evolution and scope, magnitude, and the amount of traffic in the Severe Weather Room. Usually, reports are limited to NWS Severe Thresholds.

YOUR REPORT MUST INCLUDE:

• Event 'Name' (e.g., Hail, Rotating Wall Cloud, Funnel Cloud, Straight-line Wind)
• Current location
• Event Location, (advise if estimated) e.g., street/road intersections, mile markers, miles & direction from a known locality
• County in which event is located—important
• Description—brief but concise, lose adjectives whenever possible
• Clear with your callsign and wait to confirm the readback from NC.

Sometimes, criteria may be modified by NWS based on need. NWS may want hail reports to as small as 1/4″ including fall field depth, instead of the usual size of 0.75″ and larger.

What to Report to Severe Weather Net Control

Gather your thoughts. When in doubt, wait and observe for another few moments

• Tornadoes, landspouts, gustnadoes—confirm that formation is on the ground
• Funnel cloud/condensation funnel, look carefully at surface for dust/debris
• Wall Clouds may be very slowly rotating. Should be attached to cloud base in or near the clear slot, away from rain shaft. Scud—ragged clouds detached from the storm base—are tricky. If they're very near or under a wall cloud, then watch closely and we need to discuss because they may be part of a somewhat invisible, possibly weak, rotation.
• Micro & Macro (large) downbursts, look for rain/dust spreading away at surface
• Damaging straight-line winds blowing down trees and powerlines, damaging buildings (see wind speed estimation below). Handheld anemometer measurements are best.
• Hail, usually 0.75″ largest side (1″+ is severe) (see hail reporting graphic below)
• Rain Rates, 1″/hr urban, 1.5″/hr rural
• Flooding of rivers, creeks, drainages, homes, buildings, roadways

In the case of roadway flooding that is a danger to traffic, first call 911. Then, report the heads-up to Net Control, clearly stating that you have reported to 911. NC will relay the heads-up to NWS. Some NWS offices want road flooding reported only to emergency management which, in turn, relays the report to them.

• Whiteout snow conditions with visibility less than 0.5 miles

Participants are encouraged to share reports of the severity they're observing. However, exclude reports such as 'light rain' or 'it's clear here' unless called for. Always be ready to give an estimate of direction and distance of the event from your location. If you're uncertain of the severity, please state that to Net Control.

What to Report to 911

• Traffic accidents due to severe weather
• Dangerous road conditions due to severe weather, including flooding. Call 911 and report, asking them to relay to the NWS. THEN, call a heads-up to Net Control, clearly stating that you have already reported this to 911. Net Control will relay to NWS to make certain they got the message.
• Structural damage due to severe weather
• Downed power lines and poles anywhere

Helpful Dashboards

For monitoring connections at the CO Severe Weather Room:

• Weather Hub (AllStar Repeaters): https://kg0sky.duckdns.org/allmon2/link.php?nodes=485322
• SkyHubLink Allstar (Primary): https://kg0sky.duckdns.org/allmon2/link.php?nodes=46079
• CO Severe Wx Rm AllStar: http://status.kf0lpt.com:8085/supermon/link.php?nodes=289800,289802
• Colorado Digital Multiprotocol Reflector (all modules): http://coloradodigital.duckdns.org/

Additional Resources

• Cloud identification chart & descriptions: https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/cloudchart#myModalh4
• Graphics on storm identification, reporting, and safety: http://www.k3r7wx.com/wxsafety.html
• Concise Spotter Field Guide (72-page PDF, NWS Norman, OK): Basic Spotter Guide
• Advanced Spotter Field Guide (30-page PDF, NWS Norman, OK): Advanced Spotter Guide

General Severe Warnings Thresholds

• Severe Thunderstorm — Hail 1 inch or greater and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or greater.
• Heavy Rain — Rainfall rates of 1 inch per hour or greater. Often combined with thunderstorm criteria to define severe weather.
• Tornado — A tightly rotating column of air attached to a thunderstorm cloud and in contact with the ground.
• Funnel Cloud — A rotating column of air attached to a thunderstorm but not in contact with the ground. Careful observation of the surface is required, as the circulation may be invisible near the ground. Often prompts a warning.
• Flash Flood — Sudden, intense flooding of short duration (typically less than 6 hours).
• Flood / Areal Flood — Gradual flooding lasting many hours or longer, usually caused by prolonged rainfall or snowmelt and affecting rivers and streams.
• Blizzard — Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater, with blowing snow and visibility less than ¼ mile for at least 3 hours.
• Snow Squall — Brief but intense snow showers producing visibility of ¼ mile or less, often accompanied by flash-freezing of road surfaces.

Wind Speed Estimation

• Less than 1 mph – Smoke rises vertically
• 1-3 MPH — Light Air Movement – Smoke drift indicates wind direction, still wind vanes
• 4-7 MPH — Light Breeze – Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, vanes begin to move
• 8-12 MPH — Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended
• 13-18 MPH — Moderate Breeze – Dust, leaves, loose paper lifted, small branches move
• 19-24 mph – Fresh Breeze – Small trees in leaf begin to sway
• 25-31 mph – Strong Breeze – Larger tree branches moving, whistling in wires
• 32-38 mph – Near Gale – Whole trees moving, resistance felt walking against wind
• 39-46 mph – Gale – Twigs breaking off trees, generally impedes progress
• 47-54 mph – Strong Gale – Slight structural damage; shingles may lift off roofs
• 55-63 mph – Storm force – Trees broken or uprooted, considerable structural damage
• 58+ mph (60 knots) is severe threshold
• 64-72+ mph – Violent storm force – Widespread tree and structural damage