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I'm Steve Sipple, meteorologist
with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. We
use volunteers around our area to observe and
report severe weather as it occurs. Often times,
these observers are trained to report
certain criteria. This is the workstation at
the National Weather Service, where licensed Ham
Radio operators are able to use the
radio, and, during certain severe weather operations,
receive reports from other volunteers around
our area. The net controller who works at this station
can relay the reports, in real time, to the
forecasters. A lot of times we base our warnings upon these reports.
During our training episodes, when we have
an instructor and students attending these classes,
we indicate the criteria or the specific
weather that will be observed and reported [by spotters]
when it occurs. For example, in Tornado Alley
the trained spotters are expected to observe and report
tornados as they occur. Here in Arizona,
we have more of a dust storm, straight-line
wind threat. Often times, the Ham Radio operator
will be able to relay this important
information to the National Weather Service.
[There may be a time when] the phone lines might be down [and] cell phones might be
inoperative, and we need to have the information
passed along to the National Weather Service. So, Ham Radio operators
make an ideal spotter to relay the information.
We have over 500 trained spotters
in various locations around our County Warning Area.
Here in Maricopa County, we have perhaps 400
or more trained spotters. Often times,
they travel and may not be around during our peak
threat season, which is the monsoon season. That
extends from June 15 through September 30.
We need people during this critical time to observe and
report severe weather.