Skywarn Recognition Day Set for December 3, 2022

The annual SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD)   on-the-air activity will take place Saturday, December 3, 2022, from   0000 to 2400 UTC. For US time zones, activity begins on the evening of   Friday, December 2, 2022.

SKYWARN Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service (NWS) and ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®  to honor the contributions  that SKYWARN volunteers make to the NWS  mission -- the protection of  life and property during threatening  weather. During the SKYWARN  special event, hams will operate from  several NWS offices, as well as  from their mobile, home, and club  stations. "The relationship between  amateur radio operators and the NWS  is extremely important for relaying  information during storms of any  type," said ARRL Director of  Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV.  "SKYWARN is a perfect  example of the value of hams working together  with government partners  during times of disaster."

The  SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program has been a mechanism used by the  NWS for  years to educate people on what to watch for during weather  events and  to provide a source for information to the NWS offices.  Program courses  provide information on reportable criteria for cloud  formations, and  even what to look for during the formation of  supercells that may cause  tornadoes or other potentially dangerous  weather events.

For information about SKYWARN spotter courses, which are available to anyone around the country or online, visit https://www.weather.gov/skywarn/.
If you would like more information on becoming an amateur radio operator, go to http://arrl.org/getting-licensed. ARRL also offers a book, Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio, that is available from ARRL and its publication dealers.

Individuals  and NWS office amateur radio stations who are planning  on operating for  2022 SKYWARN Recognition Day should register to  participate. All  amateur radio stations and SKYWARN spotters that  register will receive  an SRD number to their email address once  registered. Information about  participating, registration, and a  Spotter Recognition Map is available  at https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition.

In-person  amateur radio operations will be determined by each local  National  Weather Service Forecast Office. Amateur radio operators must  make all  necessary inquiries with the appropriate NWS staff at your  respective  National Weather Forecast Office ahead of SRD.

Look  for station WX1AW, operated by ARRL Emergency Management  Assistant Ken  Bailey, K1FUG, during SRD. WX1AW will be active on 40  thru 10 meters  using SSB and FT8 Modes and will monitor local VHF and  UHF repeaters.  Contacts will be uploaded to LoTW after the event. QSL  via the station  license address with a SASE  (self-addressed-stamped-envelope).

More information is available at www.arrl.org/skywarn-recognition-day.