Best method for communication of severe weather

[Ben Holcomb]

Internet first. It doesn't clog up airwaves.
If that fails, cellphone. It'll tie up lines, but I can relay important reports.
If that fails, Ham Radio will still be there.

 

[Brandon Ivey]

#1 - Spotter Network

#2 - Cell Phone

Spotter Network has been a very useful tool for me. I never got into ham radio when I started chasing. I find Spotter Network an easy application to notify the media and NWS of what is going on out in the field. This is the easiest and quickest way to send storm information to a mass audience for me. If I have no internet coverage, I make sure and call into a local station I chase for here in Wichita. They do a good job of passing that over to the NWS.

 

[Brandon Sullivan]

Ham radio is not connected to eSpotter at all... You can't access it via ham radio.

Well i think Spotter Network is capable with APRS. Which is a function of ham radio. Im not entirely sure how it works cuz I dont use it.

But its a form of data transmission to a computer. You can use it for tracking

 

[rdale]

Sort of - you can track via the GPS but you can't enter reports.

 

[Jason Young]

The way I report is,
first Ham.
second is cell.
It is just faster for me.

 

[Greg Higgins]

Good catch regarding the tones! I'll get that updated for this year. Thanks!

Greg Higgins
FWD NWSO SkyWarn Team

 

[Jason Foster]

A few have mentioned here...but never really did it myself: but what about dialing 911. Is that really constructive, or does it delay the warning process? I just usually did the ham/skywarn or direct to NWS call.

 

[rdale]

Very rarely will your report get to NWS in a timely matter, NEVER as fast as SN or ham or direct. During a disaster, 911 operators' role is to take calls from people with emergencies and send the appropriate units to help out. Relaying weather info is WAY down the priority list.

 

[Kevin Askew]

We intercept, then get on phone with local NWS office & tell them whats going on especially with development or meso's. During the F-3 in St. Mary's MO. I was helped into position on Illinois side because it was at night and we had no data in the field. We have since got the laptop with our card & whatnot so we can stay safe & be much more effective. So having a good cell like the Razor is essential, IMO the best signal in severe weather

 

[Shane Adams]

One quick comment....I've read more than a few times that the perceived drawback of reporting via cell phone is that it ties up lines...if not to report severe weather, exactly what purpose are we trying to keep these lines freed up to serve?

 

[rdale]

There usually is only one sevwx reporting number (unless you happen to know other extensions on the office floor.) I think the concern is that if you're reporting 3/4" hail the same time that another spotter has a wedge on the ground - that's where the issue comes in to play.

 

[Lou Ruh]

One quick comment....I've read more than a few times that the perceived drawback of reporting via cell phone is that it ties up lines...if not to report severe weather, exactly what purpose are we trying to keep these lines freed up to serve?

I'm not sure about other offices, but, I know our local NWS office has one 800 number which maps to two incoming lines to the office. In a widespread event, getting through on those lines could be difficult. So, maybe not so much that you or I could be tying up the lines but that the lines are likely to be tied up with all the calls coming in.

 

[John Wetter]

Chasing locally my preference is:
Ham Radio - locally this is set up to handle the most traffic
SN
Phone Call - Swap SN and phone for tornadoes

Chasing non-locally:
SN
Cell
Ham

For the 800-numbers, there are usually multiple lines for the number but yes, I usually reserve phone calls for higher end reports, eg. high-end damage or tornadoes.

I never use 911 except for local things like accidents or something like power lines down on a busy road in a town, etc. They almost never relay info to the NWS in a timely manner, especially in anything more than an isolated event.

 

[Jesse Risley]

There probably isn't any one best method for every area.

I'm with those who advocate ham radio, but it does have its limitations as mentioned previously. The GRLevel3 Placefile feature is great, since you can simply use your mouse to locate repeaters in a given area. Once you become familiar with areas that you frequent on the plains, you can also program wide area repeater networks into the memory of your radio.

SN and cell reporting to the NWS is great, provided that you actually have service and the systems are not being overloaded.

CB radio is great for aformentioned reasons while traveling to and fro, but I've never heard of an organized CB radio network that, like SKYWARN nets utilizing ham radio, relays reliable reports to the NWS. Distance limitations and general on-air nonsense make CB radio virtually useless in most areas for that purpose.