WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #22-28

NWS RUSKIN ACTIVATING WX4TOR FOR SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY 2022

(Note: This is the corrected version, with the correct link for the Skywarn Recognition Day page that was received after the original bulletin was disseminated. Our apologies to all for any confusion.)

Coming up on Saturday December 3, 2022, will be the 2022 Skywarn Recognition Day.  Skywarn Recognition Day will run from 0000 UTC til 2400 UTC on Saturday December 3, 2022, which works out to be from 1900 EST on Friday December 2, 2000 until 1900 EST on Saturday December 3, 2022.  Skywarn Recognition Day was started in 1999 and has been done annually ever since.  The following is an excerpt from the NWS Skywarn page as to the reason for Skywarn Recognition Day:

Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation!

For more information about Skywarn Recognition Day you may go to the Skywarn Recognition Day page at https://www.weather.gov/tbw/srd2022

As part of Skywarn Recognition Day, you can add your ‘dot’ to the Skywarn Recognition Day Spotter Map, that is being hosted on the national Skywarn Recognition Day website. The link to do so is on the Skywarn Recognition Day page, in a bulleted point underneath the ARRL Operating Instructions link. This link will take you to a registration form where the town of your address will then be pinned on the map.  The National Weather Service is requesting that as many Skywarn spotters check in via this method as possible.  This will be open for registrations through December, 3, 2022.

The National Weather Service Office in Ruskin will be activating WX4TOR for Skywarn Recognition Day.  WX4TOR will be monitoring the NI4CE repeater system if you would like a quick check-in during the event.  For information on the NI4CE Repeater System you may go to https://www.ni4ce.org.  WX4TOR will also be trying to contact as many hams as possible on VHF, UHF, HF, and a few on EchoLink.  The hours of operation of WX4TOR will be on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 1900 EST until 2200 EST and on Saturday December 3, 2022 from 0800 EST until 1600 EST.

If you are interested in operating WX4TOR for a time slot, please contact Dan Noah WX4DAN, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, via email at daniel.noah@noaa.gov.

END OF PRESS RELEASE