SkyWarn Training - Syracuse on 5/20/26

 

Register here: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachskywarntraining

2026 Spring SkyWarn Training

 The 2026 Skywarn Spring Training Season is almost upon us!

Learn more from your local NWS office listed below:

Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more about CNY SKYWARN here: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

Skywarn Training - Fall 2025

 Scheduling of NWS Binghamton Fall-Winter Skywarn Trainings are currently on hold due to a lapse in appropriations.  Sessions (virtual and/or in person) will get scheduled when and if possible. (11/2/25)

All-Season Skywarn Training - Cayuga County 

NWS Binghamton office is conducting an All-Season Skywarn training hosted by the Owasco Fire Dept., 7174 Owasco Rd, Auburn, NY, from 6-8 PM on Wednesday November 19th, 6-8 PM.

UPDATE: 11/20/25: With the ending of the Lapse of Appropriations, we will still be able to offer a few NWS Binghamton Winter Skywarn Trainings - virtual and/or in-person - though less than prior seasons. As they are scheduled, they will be placed here - check back for additional registrations.

Tuesday 12/9/25  6:30-8:00 PM:  Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Thursday 12/11/25  6:30-8:00 PM: Tompkins Co Winter Skywarn, Airport Administration/CFR Building, 72 Brown Road, Ithaca NY   **registration limited to the first 30 due to space constraints**

Tue 12/16 630-800 PM: Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Mon 12/22 630-800 PM: Bradford Co Winter Skywarn, 29 VanKuren Drive, Towanda PA

Sat 1/3 10-11:30AM: Virtual Winter Skywarn - online

Sign-up for the classes here: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

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Fall training Buffalo:

https://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

What is SKYWARN?

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

SKYWARN - Fall/Winter 2025 training

Winter SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes are coming!

NWS BINGHAMTON FALL-WINTER SKYWARN TRAINING IS NOW GETTING SCHEDULED.  

Check back soon; more will be added as they become arranged (including virtual options).  All are welcome; you don't have to live in a specific county to attend one of these sessions.

10/15/2025 6-730 PM: Onondaga Co. Winter Skywarn - Bear Bait Radio Club, 4483 NY-31, Clay, NY.  

11/19/2025 6-8 PM: Cayuga Co. All-Season Skywarn - Owasco Fire Dept, 7174 Owasco Rd, Auburn, NY.  

 Link to register: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most Upstate NY NWS Offices are holding similar training this Fall. 

See the links below:

Binghamton NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Buffalo NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

Albany NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

learn more about the Skywarn program: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

What is SKYWARN?

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Spring SkyWarn training - CNY & Northern PA

 US National Weather Service Binghamton NY - Spring 2025 SkyWarn Training

More info: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Spring SkyWarn training - 2025

 

The 2025 Skywarn Spring Training Season is almost upon us!

Learn more from your local NWS office listed below:

Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more about CNY SKYWARN here: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

25th Anniversary Skywarn Recognition Day - 12/7/24

 CQ CQ CQ... WE'RE UNDERWAY for the 25th Anniversary Skywarn Recognition Day (0000Z to 2359Z Dec 7, 2024)!  This event was developed in 1999 by the NWS and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), celebrating the contributions that Skywarn volunteers make to the NWS mission:  The protection of life and property.  

Amateur radio operators are a significant portion of Skywarn volunteers/spotters across the country.  When everything else fails, ham radio is the last line of communications (as just occurred with Hurricane Helene when many hundreds of cell towers were knocked out in the Southeast as well as fiber cuts).

While Skywarn Recognition Day features amateur radio contacts being made all over the country, ANY SKYWARN SPOTTERS, FEEL FREE TO "CHECK IN" HERE in the comments section.  https://www.facebook.com/NWSBinghamton

more info: https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarn_operating_procedures

We love our trained spotters!  You provide a critical service in getting the word out of the ground truth of what is really happening, also leading to better warnings and forecasts.  

Thank you! 

NWS Binghamton NY

Winter Skywarn Training

 CNY/PA WINTER SKYWARN 2024

• Wed Oct 16 600-730 PM:  Onondaga Co. - Hosted by Highway Dept/Bear Bait Radio Club, 4483 NY-31, Clay, NY - Register
• Thu Oct 24 700-830 PM: Virtual- Register
• Tue Oct 29 630-8 PM: Susquehanna Co. - Hosted by Susquehanna Emergency Management 210 Public Way Suite 3, New Milford, PA - Register 
• Mon Nov 18 700-830 PM: Virtual- Register 

Binghamton NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Buffalo NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

Albany NWS Skywarn training info at: https://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

learn more about the Skywarn program: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

Skywarn Training....still some classes left

 

more info at: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachskywarntraining

SkyWarn Spring 2024 Training

 The 2024 Skywarn Spring Training Season is upon us!

Learn more from your local NWS office listed below:

Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn

Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more about CNY SKYWARN here: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

 

Skywarn Fall/Winter 2023-24 training - NWS Binghamton

 Fall/Winter Spotter Training 2023-24

more info: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Most Upstate NY NWS Offices are holding similar training this Fall. See the links below.

SKYWARN - Severe weather reporting program

What is SKYWARN?

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN
Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

SkyWarn Training - Spring 2023

 

Full training details: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining?fbclid=IwAR3BqP8Ro8aukfCNr5cRU2QSKsbK7kW1XKs9mK6fRtQ8L5X765o4TFOR23Y

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN
Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

Skywarn Recognition Day - December 3rd, 2022

 

Skywarn™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.

Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation

Objective

Skwarn™ Recognition Day serves to celebrate the contributions to public safety made by amateur radio operators Skywarn™ Spotters during threatening weather.

​​Amateur stations to exchange QSO information with as many National Weather Service Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus the 70 centimeter band. Contacts via repeaters are permitted.

Date

NWS stations may operate at any time during December 3, 2022 from 0000 - 2400 UTC.

Exchange:

Call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two word description of the weather occurring at your site ("sunny", "partly cloudy", "windy", etc.).

Modes:

NWS stations will work various modes including SSB, FM, AM, RTTY, CW, and PSK31. While working digital modes, special event stations will append "NWS" to their call sign (e.g., N0A/NWS). NWS offices may also participate via Social Media platforms throughout the 24 hour period. 

Learn more: https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

More Winter Skywarn training opportunities!

 

link: https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Winter Skywarn Training

 Its that time to start thinking about Winter SkyWarn Training. Most NWS offices will be holding classes this fall. Some of those can be found in the links below:

Registration Link: Skywarn Training Schedule (weather.gov)

 

SKYWARN - Severe weather reporting program

What is SKYWARN?

The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, established SKYWARN® with partner organizations. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

Although SKYWARN® spotters provide essential information for all types of weather hazards, the main responsibility of a SKYWARN® spotter is to identify and describe severe local storms. In the average year, 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States. These events threatened lives and property.

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 NWS to issue more timely and accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash floods.

Learn more at the National SKYWARN web site: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN
Binghamton NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo NY NWS SKYWARN page: http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany NY NWS SKYWARN page:  http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

Spring SkyWarn Training - Online or in-person

Spring SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes are coming!

Most upstate NY counties are conducting SkyWarn Training in April and May.

The training will be held at various area locations and on-line. This class is for beginners or anybody that has a general interest in weather (some advanced classes available). These classes train volunteers how to accurately observe and report hazardous weather to the National Weather Service. The classes are free and open to everyone; no age requirements, previous training, or equipment is required.

The SKYWARN program is a nationwide program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. Trained weather spotters provide valuable lifesaving information to the National Weather Service and we encourage those who have an interest in weather to participate in this critical program. Despite all the technological advances, SKYWARN Spotter reports are still crucial to the National Weather Service in providing more accurate severe weather warnings.

See the full training schedules at:

Binghamton (Syracuse-CNY):  http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo (Rochester-WNY): http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany(ENY) :https://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

Learn more about SKYWARN and Amateur Radio at: http://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html 

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day -2021

 

Skywarn Recognition Day will be December 4th, 2021

SKYWARN™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that SKYWARN™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property. Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the SKYWARN™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

Skywarn RD website link: https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

Skywarn RD Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

Message from Micthell Gaines at the Binghamton NWS office on 12/3/21:

From all of us here at the National Weather Service in Binghamton we thank you for being weather spotters! Your service is invaluable for the community and for us at the NWS. Normally, we would have an event with HAM licensed radio operators. However, with ongoing circumstances we still wanted to reach out virtually this year. 

To represent your community you can register here https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6af367236b8b499f8a3c40110e58a596. 

 If you have any questions you can reach myself mitchell.gaines@noaa.gov or Bryan.Greenblatt@noaa.gov anytime. 

SKYWARN - Winter Training 2021

Winter SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes are coming!

Most upstate NY counties are conducting SkyWarn Training this Fall.

The training will be held at various area locations and on-line. This class is for beginners or anybody that has a general interest in weather (some advanced classes available). These classes train volunteers how to accurately observe and report hazardous weather to the National Weather Service. The classes are free and open to everyone; no age requirements, previous training, or equipment is required.

The SKYWARN program is a nationwide program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. "Trained weather spotters provide valuable lifesaving information to the National Weather Service and we encourage those who have an interest in weather to participate in this critical program," said David Nicosia, Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Binghamton NY. "Despite all the technological advances, SKYWARN Spotter reports are still crucial to the National Weather Service in providing more accurate severe weather warnings," Nicosia continues.

See the full training schedules at:

Binghamton (Syracuse-CNY):  http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo (Rochester-WNY): http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany(ENY) :https://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

Learn more about SKYWARN and Amateur Radio at: http://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html 

https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

Skywarn Training - Spring 2021

Spring SKYWARN Spotter Training Classes are coming!

Most upstate NY counties are conducting SkyWarn Training in March, April and May.

The training will be held at various area locations and on-line. This class is for beginners or anybody that has a general interest in weather (some advanced classes available). These classes train volunteers how to accurately observe and report hazardous weather to the National Weather Service. The classes are free and open to everyone; no age requirements, previous training, or equipment is required.

The SKYWARN program is a nationwide program that provides real-time severe weather reports to the National Weather Service. "Trained weather spotters provide valuable lifesaving information to the National Weather Service and we encourage those who have an interest in weather to participate in this critical program," said David Nicosia, Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Binghamton NY. "Despite all the technological advances, SKYWARN Spotter reports are still crucial to the National Weather Service in providing more accurate severe weather warnings," Nicosia continues.

See the full training schedules at:

Binghamton (Syracuse-CNY):  http://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining
Buffalo (Rochester-WNY): http://www.weather.gov/buf/Skywarn
Albany(ENY) :https://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn

Learn more about SKYWARN and Amateur Radio at: http://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html 

https://www.weather.gov/bgm/outreachSKYWARNtraining

SkyWarn Recognition Day 2020 - 12/5/20

 from the SkyWarn Jacksonville Fla. Team:

00 -24 UTC December 5th, 2020

On behalf of the SRD Planning Team, I want to take a little of your time to formally announce that Skywarn Recognition Day 2020 (SRD 2020) is a go.

However, like all things 2020, expect significant changes and a ‘new normal’.

NWS Offices will be out of play this year. Due to the staffing constraints related to COVID, running base stations from NWS offices have been removed from the picture.

So, what are we doing?

This will be open to all Skywarn Spotters including amateur radio and non-amateur radio operators.

• Skywarn Recognition Day Webpage is operational
• Amateur Radio Skywarn Operators are encouraged to reach out to all who have registered (the registration is up and running.)
• NWS Operations may need to work on developing liaison methods (NWSChat/Other Comms) to collaborate with off-site amateur radio net control operators
  • Coordinate this locally
• Skywarn Recognition Facebook page has been setup – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2670993076293359
  • Social Media will be active – and we are working on setting up a series of live streams throughout the 24 hour period.
  • Including a ‘Faces of Skywarn” interactive event!
  • Local Offices are encouraged to engage your local Skywarn Spotters during the day!

Certificating and Logging procedures are still being worked out – so check the SRD webpage frequently!

I have received a few questions and the most common are included here:

“Can we operate the NWS Amateur Station from a remote location?”

• The simple answer is yes you can.
  • Since we cannot operate from within the NWS offices, remote operations are encouraged.
• You must work with the station trustee to assure they are aware of and will permit this operation.
• It is also recommended that this be ONE club/operator at any given time to avoid confusion (the registration allows you to identify operational time periods.)
• ALL station operators should adhere to CDC. state and local guidelines (social distancing, face coverings, etc.)

“Is there a cost for participation?”

• No, other than personal time and equipment.

“I don’t have an amateur radio license, can I still participate?”

• Absolutely, this is open to ALL Skywarn Spotters (and actually for non-Skywarn Spotters)
• This is an opportunity to promote and recognize Skywarn Spotters.

Skywarn Recognition Day Webpage – www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

Skywarn Recognition Day Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2670993076293359

Skywarn Recognition Day Notification List – SRD+subscribe@groups.io (put “Subscribe” in the subject line

What is Skywarn and learn about using it in Upstate NY: https://www.upstateham.com/p/skywarn.html