Skywarn is a program of the United States' National Weather Service (NWS).  Its mission is to collect reports of localized severe weather.  These reports are used to aid forecasters in issuing and verifying severe weather watches and warnings, improve the forecasting and warning processes, and the tools used to collect meteorological data.  It consists of a network of severe storm spotters that observe weather conditions and make reports of severe weather to their local NWS offices.  These spotters are trained by personnel from the local NWS offices each spring in advance of the coming severe weather season.

Cuyahoga County Skywarn:

Along with other Northern Ohio Amateur Radio clubs, LEARA supports the Northern Ohio Skywarn Network.  Northern Ohio Skywarn feeds weather observations to NWS from points along Ohio's North Coast extending from Toledo to Erie, PA.

The 146.760 repeater is used as the primary repeater and the 146.880 repeater is used as the backup repeater for Cuyahoga County Skywarn.  More information on Cuyahoga County Skywarn can be found on their website.

Practice Net:

The Skywarn Practice Net takes place during Skywarn season from mid-February through the end of October, Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM.  See our Nets page for more information.

Activation:

Skywarn is typically activated when the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning, tornado watch, severe thunderstorm watch, a severe thunderstorm warning, or when weather conditions potentially threaten life and property in Cuyahoga County.

If, at anytime, a QSO is taking place on frequency and a Skywarn Net Control Station breaks in and needs the frequency for Skywarn operation, the stations carrying on the QSO must sign and make the frequency available for Skywarn.

Severe Weather Mode:

When Cuyahoga County Skywarn is activated the repeater will be put into severe weather mode.  In severe weather mode, at first the repeater will send out a series of tones and say "weather alert."  The courtesy tone will change to a Morse-code letter "W" (· - -) which signifies the repeater is in severe weather mode.  The repeater is closed and in a directed net.  Stations may only transmit if they have a report that meets the criteria as directed by Skywarn Net Control.  Please listen to the Skywarn Net Control Station for instruction on what criteria are needed for a report.

Stand By Mode:

Stand by mode typically means there is severe weather in the area or there is an active warning for a nearby county.  A Morse-code "S" (· · ·) courtesy tone means the repeater is in "stand by" mode.  The Skywarn Net Control Station is monitoring the frequency for emergency traffic.  Stations may use the repeater to carry on QSOs but must leave long pauses between short transmissions so stations with priority traffic may break in.  The Skywarn Net Control Station may also need to break in and put the repeater in severe weather mode.

Northern Ohio & Northeastern Pennsylvania:

For Skywarn frequencies for Hams or scanner listeners in Northern Ohio and Northeastern Pennsylvania, district nets, and the backbone, see the list of Skywarn frequencies. The list includes the counties and cities of: