SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.
SKYWARN® storm spotters are not the same as storm chasers. Storm spotters often remain within a relatively short distance of their homes, or even spot directly from home given a clear enough view. A storm spotter's goal is to observe as much pertinent information as possible, and relay that information to meteorologists at the National Weather Service. Storm spotters are literally the eyes of the NWS, and can often see dangers below or beyond radar's capabilities.
The primary means of communicating with the National Weather Service as a SKYWARN® storm spotter is via radio. Emergency management personnel and law enforcement can communicate with one another and to a central operator, who then relays their reports to the NWS, typically via amateur radio.
