SKYWARN® Spotter Program

What is SKYWARN®?
     SKYWARN® is a National Weather Service (NWS) program of trained volunteer severe weather spotters. SKYWARN® volunteers support their local community and government by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. The key focus of the SKYWARN® program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers.

SKYWARN® Training

Excellent training is available online at NWS Boise Skywarn Spotter Training Storymap

What does a SKYWARN® Spotter report?
     Although all reports are welcome, the National Weather Service in Boise is particularly interested in the weather elements described below.

How Do I Become a SKYWARN® Weather Spotter?
     The National Weather Service welcomes volunteers with an interest in severe weather spotting. Since the NWS instituted the SKYWARN® Program, there has been a significant decrease in the death rate due to tornadoes and other severe weather. The SKYWARN® program is completely voluntary. You may have the opportunity to call our office several times a season depending on the weather pattern in your neck-of-the-woods. If you agree, we may occasionally call you for a "ground truth" as to what is actually happening near your house. Most likely our phone call will be to confirm an element of potentially severe thunderstorms, like large hail, or damaging wind. Other calls may be to verify heavy snowfall or peak wind speed associated with large winter storms.

If interested please email boise.weather@noaa.gov

How to make a report:

Email: boise.weather@noaa.gov - A great way to include pictures & video.

Online: https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/report/ -Able to use on a mobile device or home computer.

Telephone: NWS Boise Severe Weather 800 Number - Must have been through severe weather spotter training and belong to a spotter network to use this line! Refer to materials received during spotter training.

Facebook: Visit our Facebook page and post a severe weather report to our wall.

Twitter: Tweet us your reports by including the #idwx or #orwx hashtag or send them directly to @NWSBoise.

mPing: Send reports from your location via a smartphone app

Spotter Newsletters
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