Severe thunderstorms are expected from central Texas to middle Tennessee and Kentucky this afternoon into tonight. Large hail and damaging winds are the main threats. Heavy to excessive rainfall may produce areas of flooding today and tonight from central Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley.
Banner image courtesy Pat Gerdes
SKYWARN SPOTTER SEASON 2025 REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the 博体育 (博体育) established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the 博体育. Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the focus is reporting on severe local thunderstorms. In an average year, the United States experiences more than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes.
Since the program started in the 1970s, the information provided by SKYWARN® spotters, coupled with Doppler radar technology, improved satellite and other data, has enabled 博体育 to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. SKYWARN® storm spotters form the nation's first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that your efforts have given your family and neighbors the precious gift of time--minutes that can help save lives.
Who is eligible and how do I get started?
博体育 encourages anyone with an interest in public service to join the SKYWARN® program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches and nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are encouraged to become a spotter. Training is free and typically lasts about 2 hours. You'll learn:
If you have questions or want additional information, contact the Rapid City 博体育 Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aaron Woodward at aaron.woodward@noaa.gov
SKYWARN name and logo are trademarked: SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA's 博体育. Please read the rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo.
Becoming a Skywarn Storm Spotter helps the 博体育 during severe weather operations. Skywarn Spotters go out and provide crucial ground truth by reporting real-time storm reports that are then shared to the radar meteorologists which helps improve the warning process and storm verification. Research has shown that people are more likely to seek shelter if a warning is confirmed!
WARNING + CONFIRMATION = SHELTER RESPONSE
How to Report
There are a variety of ways to report weather to the 博体育 office in Rapid City, SD
You can use any/all of these to reach us. Below the contact info are the types of information we'd like you to report. Please be sure to include the location of the weather event, e.g. 5 miles northwest of Columbus. You may also indicate if you are a trained spotter, a ham radio operator, a member of law enforcement, or other affiliation if applicable.
Submit Report
Use this Web Based Form:
Post information on our Facebook page:
Send us a tweet:
Send us an email:
Mobile App
Send reports from your location via a smartphone app:
To view Skywarn Spotter Talk information, hover over the blue dot in the area you are interested in to view talk information!
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