Guidelines for Weather Operation:
1. Announce every 30 Minutes on 147.36 Repeater with Tones Say, "The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a Severe Thunderstorm &/or Tornado Watch for Northwest Oklahoma. All Amateur Radio trained weather spotters please observe the weather in your area and be ready for activation, should Severe Weather Conditions develop."
2. Weather Service Severe Thunderstorm outlook will be read when available, at announcement times.
Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado WARNING:
1. Net Control Operators get into position and monitor TV and Weather Service for Thunderstorm outlooks. 2. When Severe Thunderstorms are building or are present within one county or 50 miles of Tri-State Amateur Radio Group weather watch area, as defined by the Officers of the Group, 3. Start Net and contact spotters in the first county next to storms. 4. Call every 10 minutes on the 147.36 repeater with Tones. Say " The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, it is in effect for the following area. (describe, or read thunderstorm outlook information from weather service.) 5. Alert weather spotters in adjacent counties to be ready for activation as weather development moves toward their area.
When Severe Thunderstorms are Active:
1. Activate Net with two Operators. Operator 1 as Net Control, Operator 2 as Liaison with Weather Service, Police, etc.
Guidelines for Operator #1:
1. Activate spotters on a County by County area as needed to monitor severe weather. Chart spotters location. 2. Warn other spotters to be ready for activation as weather moves into their area. 3. Release spotters as storms move by their positions. 4. Log information that spotters report, such as, Time, Location, Wind, Speed, Direction of Wind, Size of Hail, Rain. 5. When contacting spotters, give their location on initial contact.
Guidelines for Operator #2:
1. Contact Weather Service and advise that the Tri-State Amateur Radio Group Weather Net is in operation. 2. Log spotter reports that are called in. 3. Separate Reports as to the Weather Service terms of "Severe Weather" which is A. Winds in excess of 58 MPH. B. Hail 3/4" in diameter and more. C. All tornados. D. Sudden changes in conditions. 4. Keep all other reports and use them for reference material later. 5. Report Severe Weather as outlined above to the Weather Service in Norman Oklahoma either by Radio or Telephone. 6. Advise Net Control Operator of desired spotter locations, as ask by the Weather Service. 5. If Tornado damage is observed by spotters report such to the local authorities, if such authority is not on location. 6. If damage to Public or Private property is observed, report to Police, Sheriff, Ambulance, High-Way Patrol, etc. Operator #2 will determine proper authority and contact same.
Guidelines for Spotters:
1. Go about your daily routines but keep weather on your mind.
2. Try to listen to Ham Radio for announcements as much as possible.
3. Try to receive other kinds of weather reports if possible. Thunderstorm outlooks from National Weather Service broadcast at 7:30 and 12:30 on 147.000 MHz.
4. Look at clouds for the build up of Severe Weather. Report Severe weather or threatening conditions to one of the following. KC5NID , K5GUD or N5WO.
Thunderstorm or Tornado WARNING AREA
1. If Potential Severe Weather is observed near your location, advise one of the Net Controllers.
2. Advise Net Controllers if Severe Weather is observed, and of your Availability and Location for Weather Spotting.
3. Be aware of the fact that the Weather Net will start when the potential of Severe Weather is in the next County or within 50 miles of the watch area. If your are going to the leading edge of the Weather Watch Area this will be the rule of thumb that will be observed.
Thunderstorm Development to the Severe level
1. Listen for Net Control, Advise of location, Availability, Advise if you are able to relocate for better observation of weather.
2. Advise of weather conditions in your area to Net Control, Remember only Severe weather will be reported on to Weather Service at Norman but local citizens and authorities maybe interested in other threatening conditions such as heavy rain and lightning and strong winds.
3. Severe weather is. A. Winds in the excess of 58 MPH. B. Hail 3/4 " in diameter and greater. C. All Tornado's D. Sudden changes in wind, lightening, Hail.
4. The Weather Net will be run on a roll call type of net most of the time. Net Control will try to poll the net for conditions as often as possible. If Sudden Changes or Severe Weather Conditions that have not been reported develop, break into Net Control to report such conditions. Normal Net will be speak as spoken to from Net Control. All Reports Will Be To Net Controller. Net Controller will advise Weather Command of Reports of Severe Weather.
5. Do not place your life and equipment in the path of the storm, it is not necessary to be that close for good observation. Do not go down dead-end roads to observe weather. Do not let Net Control place you in such a place, advise Net Control of such conditions.
6. Advise Net Control if damage is observed of public or private property. Use language to the effect of "Tornado appears to have moved into the south edge of Woodward." Do not make such statements if any doubt of such action. Only report what you know to be the facts.
7. If damage is observed and local authorities are not in the area, advise Net Control so local authorities can be notified. One Spotter should remain in area as a observer until police, sheriff, ambulance, etc. have arrived.
Weather Net:
Date: __________ Time: _______ Location: _______________
This is (W5OKT) Wonderful 5 Oklahoma Kansas Texas calling the Tri-State Amateur Radio Group weather net on the N5WO repeater, operating on 147.360 MHz with a positive offset, and a 100.0 tone. (W5OKT) will be net control for this session of the weather net. Amateur radio operators with weather spotter training and wishing to be coordinated with other amateur radio operators in spotting severe weather in Northwest Oklahoma are encouraged to check into this net. (W5OKT) will be coordinating the traffic between the weather spotters for this net.
All amateur radio operators wishing to check into this net please come now. With your call sign, name and current location.
Net recognizes (read list)
This is (W5OKT) WONDERFUL 5 OKLAHOMA KANSAS TEXAS, net control for the Tri-State Amateur Radio Group Weather Net. I wish to thank you for each and everyone that has checked into the net tonight. This net has been conducted this evening for the purpose of keeping a watch on the severe weather in the Northwest Oklahoma area. We hope everyone has a good evening and your are safe from the severe weather. This net will return anytime threatening weather is being experience in this area of the state. A regular net is called on this repeater each Friday night at 9:30 P.M. until then this is (W5OKT) net control, my personal call (Call Sign), wishing all of you a goodnight and a good week coming up. This is (W5OKT) returning the N5WO 147.36 Repeater back to general amateur radio service at this time. GOODNIGHT ALL.