#eWXSpotter Program

[Randy Jennings]

The EWX WFO (Austin/San Antonio) is promoting the use of twitter for submitting hazardous weather reports in their area: http://www.weather.gov/ewx/vost

This is the first time I have seen a WFO promote using twitter for real time reports to this extent (most say they try to monitor, but urgent reports should be made via other means).

They have several pics from last night's storms they received that way (including blown over train cars). The problem with this method seems to be the noise (retweets and people who use the tag when they shouldn't).

 

[rdale]

...and another problem is that the hashtag is not location specific... So once people not seeing this page notice the #ewxspotter tag I wonder if they'll pick it up too...