CENTRAL CAROLINA SKYWARN Net Control Training

1. CENTRAL CAROLINA SKYWARN Net Control Training Virginia Enzor Emergency Coordinator

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. Following the powerpoint… • EMWIN, Gibson Ridge and radios • Simulated net Photo courtesy of Thomas Babb

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Modes of Activation • Standby • Active • Emergency Photo courtesy of John Hamilton, Triad Skywarn

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Skywarn courtesy tones…. NCOs should contact the EC/AEC for this information. Photo courtesy of the NWS

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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….5:00 p.m. • Name and call sign of station making the report.…Rhett, KB4HG .

19. 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 Castalia

20. 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.

21. 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 information…statements, warnings, etc.

22. 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.

23. NWS Operating Considerations • NWS personnel may operate under high tension in a critical weather mode. • If a report is critical, bring it to the forecaster’s 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.

24. 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 manpowerand the capability to hit the approved repeater.

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. Pop Quiz! • How many CCS counties are there? • Can you name them ?

34. The CCS county warning area covers 18 counties

35. CCS Information Net146.88 repeater….9:15 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.

36. Repeaters 146.880 (negative offset, no tone) Primary 145.390 (negative offset, 82.5) Backup Carolina 440 UHF Link System Backup ( www.carolina440.net)

37. 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.

38. 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 net’s 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.

39. 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

40. InterWARN…. One way to stay informed

42. www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/

43. IWIN …http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/nc/nc.html

44. 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

45. www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/radar/

46. Experimental RIDGEwww.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/rax.shtml

47. Gibson Ridge Radar

48. 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