CENTRAL CAROLINA SKYWARN Net Control Training

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CENTRAL CAROLINA SKYWARN Net Control Training

• Virginia Enzor
• Emergency Coordinator

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The mission of Central Carolina Skywarn is to
provide the National Weather Service with timely
and accurate criteria severe weather reports.
Photo courtesy of Johnathan Blaes, NES
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The Net Control Operator is crucial to fulfilling
the mission of Central Carolina Skywarn. The
training that you receive today will prepare you
for running effective nets.
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Powerpoint topics

• Decision to activate
• Severe weather activation policy and severe
  weather criteria
• Activation modes
• Activation procedures for remote nets and nets at
  the NWS
• Severe weather scripts
• Key elements of a good report

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And a few more topics.

• Winter weather activation policy, procedures, and
  winter weather criteria
• Tropical weather net procedure and criteria
• CCS Information Net
• Function of liaisons and repeaters for liaison
  use
• Back up repeaters
• Coordination with other nets
• Staying informed

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Following the powerpoint

• EMWIN, Gibson Ridge and radios
• Simulated net

Photo courtesy of Thomas Babb
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Decision to activate

• Central Carolina Skywarn will activate
• at the request of the NWS or
• at the discretion of the Skywarn Emergency
  Coordinator/Assistant Emergency Coordinator
  leadership.

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Severe weather activation

• For a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch in
  any of the 18 counties covered by Central
  Carolina Skywarn
• The tones will not be brought up.
• A Skywarn Net Control Operator will make
  announcements pertaining to the watch and monitor
  the repeater for reports of criteria severe
  weather.
• CCS will be in Stand by mode, meaning this is
  not a directed net, and the repeater will be free
  for normal amateur use.

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• For a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning
  in any one of the 18 counties covered by Central
  Carolina Skywarn
• The tones will be brought up.
• A Skywarn Net Control Operator will make
  announcements pertaining to the warning and
  monitor the repeater for reports of severe
  weather.
• CCS may use Stand-by mode, Active mode or
  Emergency mode.
• In the event of fast developing and dissipating
  pulse storms, the tones may remain up after the
  expiration of the warning until such time the NWS
  directs that the threat of severe weather has
  diminished.

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Modes of Activation

• Standby
• Active
• Emergency

Photo courtesy of John Hamilton, Triad Skywarn
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Standby Mode

• This mode means the repeater is free for normal
  use however, a NCS will be standing by to
  receive criteria severe weather reports.
• This is not a directed net.
• Typically this mode will be utilized during
  watches and warnings when few reports are being
  received.
• The employment of tones is dependent upon
  issuance of a watch or warning.

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Active Mode

• Active Mode
• The tones are brought up.  
• This repeater is under a directed net, and all
  traffic should be directed through the NCS.
• Severe weather is occurring within the CCS
  coverage area, and Net Control is receiving
  multiple severe weather reports.
• This mode may be utilized during warnings.

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Emergency Mode

• Mode
• The tones are brought up.
• This mode means the repeater is now under a
  directed net, and all traffic should be directed
  to the NCS.
• Extreme weather is occurring within the CCS
  coverage area.
• Net Control will seek criteria severe weather
  reports from the affected area only spotters in
  other locations should hold their Skywarn
  reports.

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Skywarn courtesy tones.
NCOs should contact the EC/AEC for this
information.
Photo courtesy of the NWS
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Severe Weather Criteria

• Hail initial reports of any size penny size,
  ¾ in diameter or larger thereafter
• Measured wind speeds of 50 mph or greater

Photo courtesy of Tom Paylor
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Severe Weather Criteria Continued

• Measured rainfall of
• 1 or more per hour
• Flooding or flash flooding
• where none normally
• occurs
• Rotating wall clouds,
• funnel clouds, or
• tornadoes
• Storm damage

Photo courtesy of Raleigh NWS
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Severe Weather Scripts

• Use the Skywarn log sheet to record reports.
• If you are an NCO at the NWS, use the call sign
  WX4NC if remote, use your personal call sign.
• Call NWS with criteria severe weather reports as
  soon as possible.
• Send a written report to the NWS by email, fax
  or mail
• National Weather Service
  Raleigh Forecast Office
  1005 Capability Drive, Suite 300
  Centennial
  Campus Raleigh, North
  Carolina 27606
• Read all details of special weather statements,
  watches, and warnings. Include path casts.
  Safety information is optional.

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Key Elements of Taking a Good Report

• On the Skywarn Log Sheet record
• What the station observed.Hail, quarter size for
  4 minutes
• Location of the event. Colson Road and Osgood
  Road, Sanford, Lee County
• Time the event occurred.500 p.m.
• Name and call sign of station making the
  report.Rhett, KB4HG
• .

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Location, Location, Location
Learn town and county names! You will need to
read them aloud sooner or later! Have a NC map
handy while running the net. How would you
pronounce Conetoe Chalybeate Springs Momeyer Cast
alia
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Activation procedures for a remote net

• The EC/AEC will activate Skywarn at request of
  NWS or the issuance of a watch or warning.
• If Skywarn activity is initiated by the EC/AEC,
  the EC/AEC will contact the NWS for weather
  details and updates.
• The EC/AEC will contact NCOs as needed for the
  event.
• The NCO will announce watches/ warnings as needed
  and log all criteria severe weather reports.
• The EC/AEC will monitor the net and periodically
  check with NCOs. The EC/AEC will make staffing
  adjustments as needed.
• The NCO will phone criteria severe weather
  reports into the NWS and send a final report via
  email to the NWS with a cc to the EC/AEC.

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Activation procedures with NCO at NWS

• The NWS will initiate a request with the EC/AEC
  for Skywarn activation at the NWS.
• 2. The EC/AEC will arrange staffing.
• One or two NCOs may be needed. Both could be at
  the NWS or one remote and one at NWS.
• Upon arrival at the NWS, the NCO should make
  contact with the forecaster.
• 5. At the CCS station, the NCO should turn the
  antenna switch from WX to radio and start EMWIN
  and Gibson Ridge.
• 6. If there is a Remote NCO, the NWS NCO
  should inform him that he has arrived and provide
  the net with any updated informationstatements,
  warnings, etc.

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Activation procedures continued.

• 7. The Remote NCO will direct all radio traffic
  while the NWS NCO will log criteria reports
  received over the net and pass those onto the
  NWS.
• NWS NCO may pass along latest statements,
  warnings, etc.
• Remote NCO will use his own personal call sign
  the NCO at the NWS will use the call sign WX4NC.
• The NCO will leave the CCS radio station in clean
  condition, ready for the next activation. The
  NCO should turn the antenna switch back to WX,
  turn off the radios and power supplies, and shut
  down the computers.

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NWS Operating Considerations

• NWS personnel may operate under high tension in a
  critical weather mode.
• If a report is critical, bring it to the
  forecasters attention immediately otherwise,
  consider whether circumstances dictate if it can
  wait a few minutes.
• Sensitive information such as reports of severe
  damage, deaths or injuries may be mentioned such
  information should not be repeated on the air by
  Skywarn volunteers outside the Skywarn net.
• Be considerate and keep the volume of the radios
  down so as not to disturb NWS staff.
• Use headphones whenever possible.

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Liaison Script

• This script is used when a Central Carolina
  Skywarn NCO is taking severe weather
  reports from an approved local repeater and not
  from the primary Skywarn repeater.
• This is not a directed net, and Skywarn courtesy
  tones are not used.
• Reports should be either forwarded to Central
  Carolina Skywarn via the 146.88 repeater (or the
  backup repeater if applicable) or phoned to the
  NWS.
• Repeaters approved thus far include Butner
  146.94, Chapel Hill 147.135, and Rocky Mount
  146.805.
• Use of liaisons is dependent upon manpower and
  the capability to hit the approved repeater.

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Winter Weather Activation
When winter weather threatens the CCS coverage
area, a NCO will be standing by to take initial
winter weather reports. A directed net may
follow at the bottom of the hour to take winter
weather reports for the duration of the winter
weather event.
Photo courtesy of the Raleigh NWS
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Winter Weather Criteria

• Precipitation type snow, sleet, freezing rain,
  rain
• Intensity light, moderate, heavy
• Change in type of precipitation ex. sleet
• changed to freezing rain
• Snowfall accumulation or ice accretion
• Temperature
• Measured wind speed
• and direction
• Power outages

Photo courtesy of Gail Hartfield, Phillip
Badgett, and Jonathan Blaes
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Winter Weather Script

• Use your personal call sign.
• Take initial reports with onset of
  precipitation. Bring up tones with multiple
  reports.
• A scheduled, directed net will held at the bottom
  of the hour at hourly intervals for the duration
  of the event
• Use the Winter Weather Tracking Form.
• Email a copy to the NWS at the top of the hour.

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Tropical Weather Activation
When a tropical cyclone threatens the CCS
coverage area, a NCO will be standing by to take
initial reports with the onset of heavy
precipitation and/or winds. A directed net will
follow at hourly intervals for the duration of
the event.
Photo courtesy of NWS
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Tropical Weather Criteria

• Precipitation
• Rainfall over last hour
• Total rainfall since start of event
• Reports of flooding roads, creeks, residences
• Wind
• Current wind direction and speed (preferably
  measured)
• Peak gust since last report
• Wind damage

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Tropical Weather Script

• Use personal call sign if remote.
• Take initial reports with onset of heavy
  precipitation and/or winds. Bring up tones with
  multiple reports.
• A scheduled, directed net will follow at hourly
  intervals for the duration of the event.
• Reports of wind damage, flooding or wind gusts in
  excess of 50 mph may be taken prior to the hourly
  net.
• Use the Tropical Weather Tracking Sheet to record
  reports.
• Email the Tropical Weather Tracking Sheet to the
  NWS and a cc to the EC/AEC.

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As NCO, what would you do?
There is severe thunderstorm warning, and a
station reports conditions that do not meet
criteria. What would you do?
Response Thank the station for the report.
Mention the severe weather criteria that NWS is
seeking, and invite the station to report again
in the future should he observe those conditions.
There is winter storm warning, and a station
would like to know the road conditions.
Response Share any information from the NWS
warning concerning roads conditions. Advise the
station to monitor local TV and radio stations
and/or NOAA Weather Radio for further details and
updates.
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A station from Alamance County calls into an
active Skywarn net with a criteria severe weather
report.
Response Take the report , and advise the
station that there is a local Skywarn group in
his area to which he can report. Provide the
frequency for future use.in this case, 147.255
(no tone) Triad Skywarn.
There is a station maliciously interfering with
the net he is making comments like OH WOW
after reports and, of course, not identifying
with call sign.
Response Do not acknowledge a jammer or
interfering station at all. Say nothing about
the interference. If the situation is
impossible, announce a move to the back-up
frequency.
The 146.88 repeater fails.
Response Go to the back-frequency immediately.
First back-up -145.390 (tone 82.5) Second
back-up - Carolina 440 UHF Link System.
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Pop Quiz!

• How many CCS counties are there?
• Can you name them ?

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The CCS county warning area covers 18 counties
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CCS Information Net146.88 repeater.915 p.m or
following the PCTN.

• Be prepared have all information ready ahead of
  time.
• Use WX4NC call sign regardless of your location.
• Read Day 2 of the Hazardous Weather Outlook
  and/or any advisories, watches, or warnings for
  the CCS CWA.
• Recognize all check ins by call sign, name and
  position, if any.
• Welcome all check-ins from outside the CCS CWA.
• If there is no program or training spot, review
  either severe weather criteria and modes of
  activation or winter weather criteria and
  activation procedure.

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Repeaters
146.880 (negative offset, no tone)
Primary 145.390 (negative offset, 82.5)
Backup Carolina 440 UHF Link System Backup
( www.carolina440.net)
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Switching To A Back Up Repeater

• It may become necessary to switch the net to a
  back up repeater for technical reasons.  
• If possible, the NCO should announce the change
  to the back up repeater and then assign a station
  to remain on the primary frequency to inform
  stations of the change.
• On the back up repeater, the NCO should explain
  that there were difficulties with the primary
  repeater.
• Skywarn courtesy tones may be brought up on the
  145.39 repeater. Currently, there are no Skywarn
  courtesy tones for the Carolina 440 UHF Link
  System. 
• Upon closing a net, the NCO should thank the
  appropriate group for the use of its repeater
  the Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network for use of
  the 146.88 and 145.39 repeaters or the owners of
  the Carolina 440 UHF Link System for use of its
  repeaters.

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Coordinating with other nets during a Skywarn
activation..

• For a severe thunderstorm watch or warning with
  few reports being received, the Skywarn EC/AEC
  will coordinate with the other nets manager to
  arrange for the nets to run concurrently.
• For multiple severe thunderstorm warnings or a
  severe thunderstorm warning with multiple
  reports, or a tornado warning, the Skywarn EC/AEC
  will coordinate with the other net manager for
  Skywarn to remain on the primary repeater. The
  other net will move to its back up frequency.

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Stay informed about the storm!

• Sources for watches/warnings/special weather
  statements.
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Internet weather.gov/rah
• IWIN
• InterWARN (commercial product)
• Carolina Firepage
• SafeProps

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InterWARN. One way to stay informed
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(No Transcript)
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www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/
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IWIN http//iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/nc/nc.html
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Observe radar.

• http//www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/radar/
• http//www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/rax.shtml
  (Experimental RIDGE)
• Gibson Ridge

NWS Composite Reflectivity Imagery
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www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/radar/
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Experimental RIDGE www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/rax.s
html
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Gibson Ridge Radar
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Questions?
Thanks for your willingness to serve as NCO!
Your enthusiasm, professionalism, and service
make a difference!
Photo courtesy of John Van Pelt, Storm Education
Team