Skywarn® is a registered trademark of NOAA’s National Weather Service and is a product of the National Weather Service.
Skywarn® is a program developed by the National Weather Service to train volunteers to provide timely and accurate reports of severe weather. These timely ground truth reports are used to issue watches and warnings which ultimately saves lives.
Typically during February, the Amateur Radio Club of Columbia County, Inc. will sponsor a Skywarn® class which is taught by the National Weather Service. We are very fortunate to have a representative from the National Weather Service teach this course at our meeting and appreciate them providing this training to the members of the local amateur radio community. There are two different Skywarn® courses; Basic Skywarn® and Advanced Skywarn®. Both courses teach individuals of what to look for in approaching weather and what information should be relayed to the National Weather Service.
More information regarding the overall Skywarn® program may be found by visiting the Skywarn® Website. Additionally, you may visit the Columbia, SC National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office website at NWS CAE Skywarn.
Typically locally, Skywarn Nets are operated on the Amateur Radio Club of Augusta’s W4DV 145.490 Repeater with a 71.9 Tone Squelch which is located in Trenton, SC. Additionally the 145.450 Repeater with a 123.0 Tone Squelch which is located at Savannah River site is a back up for Skywarn Nets.
The National Weather Service in Columbia, SC will regularly make contact with amateur radio operators in the area using the 145.490 repeater. The call sign for the National Weather Service in Columbia, SC is WX4CAE.