11/25/2020
Each year, SKYWARN Recognition Day is the day where radio amateurs celebrate the long relationship between the amateur radio community and the National Weather Service SKYWARN™ program. The purpose of the event is to recognize amateur radio operators for the vital public service they perform during times of severe weather and to strengthen the bond between radio amateurs and their local National Weather Service office. The event is co-sponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service.
Normally radio amateurs participate from home stations and from stations at National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices, and the goal is to make contact with as many NWS forecast offices as possible during the event. However, this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation from NWS forecast offices will be minimal at best. So, the focus will shift to contacting as many SKYWARN™ trained spotters as possible during the event. New for this year, SKYWARN™ Recognition Day will be open to all SKYWARN Spotters.
Additionally, a SKYWARN™ Recognition Day page has been created and will host a variety of live and recorded segments throughout the day. All SKYWARN™ Spotters who wish to participate may sign up for a SKYWARN™ Recognition Day number by completing the form found on the SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2020 website. During the event, amateur radio operators are encouraged to exchange their name, location, SRD number, and current weather conditions with other participating stations.
See the event website for the full operating guidelines. Additionally, all SKYWARN™ Spotters will be encouraged to participate by sending weather reports, images and attending various live stream events via social media. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2020 will be held from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC December 5. To learn more, visit the SRD website.
See the event website for the full operating guidelines. Additionally, all SKYWARN™ Spotters will be encouraged to participate by sending weather reports, images and attending various live stream events via social media. SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2020 will be held from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC on December 5. To learn more, visit the SRD website.
Rules
1. Object SKYWARN 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 or Individual Spotter Stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2-meter bands plus the 70-centimeter band. Contacts via repeaters are permitted. Some stations will also operate on Echolink.
Non-Amateur Radio Spotters to exchange weather information as often as possible via Social Media with NWS Offices via Facebook or Twitter.
2. Date NWS stations may operate at any time during December 5, 2020 from 0000 - 2400 UTC.
3. Exchange: Call sign, SDR Number, signal report, QTH, and a one or two word description of the weather occurring at your site ("sunny", "partly cloudy", "windy", etc.). SDR numbers are obtained by registering for the contest at. https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition. ;
The SRD Numbers will be posted on line on December 3 at the above website and on the SKYWARN Recognition Day page.
4. 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.
5.Station Control Operator: It is suggested that during SRD operations a non-NWS volunteer should serve as a control operator for your station.
6. Event and QSL Information: The National Weather Service will provide event information via the internet. Event certificates will once again be electronic and printable from the main website after the conclusion of SRD. The type of certificate is determined by the number of contacts the participant makes.
Logs should be kept and turned in at the end of the contest. Over 400 people have already registered to take part in the contest.
Once you register to participate you will receive information on how to take part in a pre-contest webinar on the evening of December 1, 2020.
We are processing the 2008 logs as they are being received. Event Statistics will be posted weekly as they become available.
