Cell phone severe weather reporting

[Tim Vasquez]

What's the latest state of severe weather reporting by cell phone? Obviously not all chasers have mobile Internet to submit the WSFO web forms I've seen, so do various offices invite chasers at large to call in? Do some discourage this or ignore it? What have your experiences been with calling a report in the past year or so?

This is partly to shed some light on this issue for my Storm Chasing Handbook revision but I'm sure the discussion will benefit everyone.

Tim

 

[Jason Boggs]

I would have to say that my experience in calling in reports to the NWS have been nothing but positive. I had one bad experience one time with a NWS office, but again, 9 times out of 10 my calls have been positive.

 

[David Poch]

Last spring I called the NWS directly after an east to west system came through and knocked one of my trees down from the wind. I wasn't home at the time but saw the tree when I got home. I told the her that I didn't know what time it happened but gave her the size of the tree and what direction it was laying. She was really happy I called it in and was nice enough to chat with me for a few minutes talking about how the system that went through was interesting and pretty odd since it moved east to west. This was the Norman office.

 

[cedwards]

I have had only very positive experiences calling the NWS directly. My contact numbers came from Chris Novy (I believe he was the one who provided the list originally) I run the spotter network and list my cell phone number on it. Last year, I had the NWS call me wanting to know what the storm I was on looked like. They were contemplating issuing a tornado warning on it, but wanted to know what it really looked like.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I've had positive experiences when calling in to make a report. This will be my first year chasing with a ham radio, but in previous years I have called in reports to the NWS and had nothing but good experiences.

 

[Keith Mullen]

I've had nothing but positive feedback and response in calling in reports to NWS...

...but then again I'm Th44 spotter for the NWS anyway and encouraged to call in... so I don't know if that makes a difference .

 

[Bill Hark]

I have never had a problem, either with other NWS offices or in my own area. I think it helps to have been Skywarn trained at least for credibility. I always mention my ID number and place of training when I call in a report in addition to stating that I am a "storm chaser".


Bill Hark

 

[JIM SELLARS]

I have never had issues either....The guys and gals of the NWS always seem happy to take a severe report to help verify a warning or to save lives...Several years ago I was at a NWS office when a "BUS TOUR OPERATOR" called (NOT A CHASE TOUR..Thank God) wanting to know about the weather forecast a week out and they were told to "buy a newspaper or watch the Weather Channel..." Hee Hee

 

[Jesse Risley]

I've always had positive experiences as well. I've actually switched from relaying severe weather reports via ham radio in our immediate local area to just phoning the NWS directly.

 

[Verne Carlson]

Being in a variety of areas I've always just called 911 and let them pass along the report to the NWS.

 

[Johnathan Brouwer]

Most of the reports I have placed have been with Spotter network. It gets right to who needs to see it fast.

 

[Adam Lucio]

Its been good for me too, I phoned in a wind damage report back on 10-2-06 and 10 minutes later I heard it over my NOAA radio.

Now I mostly use the spotter network as my means of reporting, unless of course its for a tornado that has gone previously un-reported.

 

[Dann Cianca]

I have several WFO's in my phone (my local one in Denver and a few in Montana). The office in Billings, MT actually told me to phone ahead if I'd be chasing in the area so they'd be able to contact me, which I thought was interesting.

I've also called the Boulder, CO office and had them forward a report to an adjacent WFO that I didn't have a number for. Beyond that, I'd use 911.

It was tough growing up in Montana (when I was in high school), to call in my reports. Being that young for some reason, seemed to give me a lack of credibility.

I don't hesitate to call, though. Even last week, I called in to report heavy snow, frequent lightning, and 1/4"-1/2" graupel!

Dann

 

[Brian Stertz]

I have had no problems with reporting to the NWS. Just keep things clear, brief, and as exact as possible when making the report. They don't have time for chit chat or sorting out ambiguous details, so make sure you have your ducks in a row before calling them. I give them my name and that I am a storm chaser and then rattle off the details. Most often if it's a good chase situation, they'll ask for you to keep in touch.

 

[Bob Schafer]

I have most every office number from SJT to UEX stored on my phone, and rarely do I sense that I am being "blown off", but it does happen.

The biggest issue I've encountered is busy signals. When that happens and 1) I believe it's likely they don't have a report for what I'm witnessing due to a lack of chasers in the vicinity and 2) it's something really significant, I will call another office where the wx is quiet and ask them to relay the report. I have NEVER been made to feel like such a phone call/request was unwelcome/inappropriate.

I also do that when I'm somewhere unusual and don't have the local phone number, though I try to look up the number online that morning, call them to tell them I'm there, and ask if there's a "better" number for me to use. Then that will go on the phone.

As others have said, be concise, be calm, and be ACCURATE. Take a few deep breaths before you call and gather your thoughts, and compose the report in your head. The NWSFO will want to know where you are, what you're seeing, when you saw it, and whether or not it is ongoing. You will be asked questions such as "Is there hail? How big?" and "Is there damage?"

If you come off as a yahoo, your report will be blown off for sure.