[warn-l] 2002 SkyWARN "wrap-up" meeting

[Steve Lewis N8TFD]

The wrap-up meeting for the 2002 "severe weather season" was held today at
the NWS office in Wilmington.  Here are some items of note:

- NOAA WX radio transmitters, at 300 watts each, are in operation in 
  Richmond, IN (162.5) and Owenton, KY (162.45).

- The "replacement" voices are being integrated into more of the forecast
  products, including severe weather statements/watches/warnings.

- NWS's StormReady program is alive and well.  Details on the program can
be
  found here:  http://205.156.54.206/stormready/ .  In the Wilmington
service
  area, Scioto and Boone Counties are certified.  Union County (Ohio) is 
  getting close.

- Winter Weather Awareness Week will be November 17-23 in Ohio and
Indiana.
  Dates have not been announced for Kentucky.

- Starting October 1, Wilmington will be issuing a product called the
"Hazardous
  Weather Outlook".  This product will NOT be issued by NOAA Weather
Radio,
  but will be available from sources like EMWIN and IWIN.  Many offices
already
  issue a similar product...the format will be standardized on 10/1.
(Look
  for Special Weather Statements on EMWIN/IWIN to see what the current
format
  looks like.)

- As you all know, the amount of SkyWARN activity was very low during this

  drought year.  Wilmington logged 14 nets (that includes activity for
Dayton,
  Columbus, and West Union) totalling 45 hours of activity.
  There were 4 nets in April, 6 in May.  There was no SkyWARN activity
during
  the period 7/30 - 9/19.

- In the future, NWS will be looking for some more detail on damage
reports.
  Specifically...if you can determine the address (or at least road name)
of
  the damage, they would like that to be relayed.  As always, we are
looking
  for first-hand reports, so please don't relay what you might hear on
  public safety frequencies.



Thanks for your support of SkyWARN and it's mission in 2002.  While some 
activity is possible during the winter months, we don't anticipate another
burst of activity until the spring.  As always, be prepared for anything, 
check in to the weekly/monthly nets, and attend the spotter training
sessions
that will probably start in late January.

-73- de N8TFD/Steve


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