Heavy rainfall from scattered thunderstorms is expected across the Southwest, Intermountain West, and Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms may initiate additional fires across the west. The coastal Carolinas may experience flash floods in the coming days due to repeated thunderstorms. Additionally, a wave of intense summer heat will hit the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast States this week. Read More >
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Real-time storm reports, coupled with Doppler radar technology, are critical when it comes to issuing timely and accurate severe weather warnings. Spotters play an important role in the warning process by reporting ground-truth information to the National Weather Service, such as hail size, wind speed, tornado development, and damage. These reports can trigger a warning which may ultimately save lives. Even as new technology allows the National Weather Service to issue warnings with greater lead time, spotters will always serve as a critical link between radar indications of severe weather and what’s actually happening on the ground.
Who Are Spotters?
Virtually every community has some form of spotter network. Often, local fire and police personnel are trained to observe and report severe weather, partly due to their extensive radio communication and 24-hour operations. Citizens may also be an active part of the spotter network, some with an avid interest in the weather and many without. Some spotters are amateur radio operators. All share a sense of responsibility to their communities.
What Is SKYWARN?
SKYWARN is a volunteer program sponsored by the National Weather Service with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters across the nation. These individuals regularly attend spotter training led by NWS forecasters and then serve as the eyes and ears of both the NWS and local public safety networks as they identify and report critical storm information to the NWS. SKYWARN storm spotters are the nation's first line of defense against severe weather.
While there is online material you can study, we highly recommend attending an upcoming NWS La Crosse spotter training class offered in your area. These are free to attend, open to everyone, just a couple hours long, and led by a NWS La Crosse meteorologist. Attending a local training class will teach you local protocols and preferences used by NWS La Crosse.
NWS La Crosse coordinates with local county emergency managers to host area spotter training classes each spring, usually in March and April. This in-person training is primarily offered in larger cities and towns but also in several rural counties and smaller towns. We try to visit every county in the NWS La Crosse service area at least every other year, and we'll typically offer a couple online (virtual) classes as well for those who can't attend in-person.
NOTE: Storm spotting is different than storm chasing. Training classes are geared towards those wanting to become trained SPOTTERS in order to report significant weather to the NWS.
The 2024 NWS La Crosse storm spotter training schedule is complete!
This year we are offering "basic" and "basic + advanced" training, both in-person and virtually.
Please read below for more information:
Nearby NWS Office's Spotter Training Schedules:
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Amateur Radio Operators (HAMS) are a vital link in the spotter and communication network used by the NWS during severe or otherwise inclement weather and provide a reliable means of communications to NWS offices should normal communication modes fail.
Frequencies
Below is a listing of amateur radio frequencies and/or repeaters that SKYWARN spotters use in the NWS La Crosse service area. NWS La Crosse uses the vanity call sign of 'WX9ARX'. Local amateur radio volunteers help operate our base stations to collect area spotter reports. Otherwise staff members from the La Crosse National Weather Service (NWS) office, who have their amateur radio license, also operate and coordinate information. An example radio log file can be found here - Amateur Radio Log Main NWS La Crosse contact for spotter coordination is Mike Kurz, Warning Coordination Meteorologist. |
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Southeast Minnesota
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Rochester #1 | 147.255+ | 100.0 | W0EAS Repeater |
Rochester #2 | 146.82- | 100.0 | RARC Repeater |
Wabasha Co. | 146.745- | 136.5 | |
Winona #1 | 146.64- | 100.0 | |
Winona #2 | 146.835- | 131.8 | |
Spring Valley | 147.015+ | 110.9 | |
Austin | 146.73- | 100.0 | Too distant from NWS La Crosse |
Northeast Iowa
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Cresco | 146.925- | 103.5 | |
Decorah #1 | 146.67- | 103.5 | |
Decorah #2 | 147.165+ | 123.0 | |
St.Ansgar | 147.195+ | 103.5 | Quite distant from NWS La Crosse |
Dubuque | 147.240+ | 114.8 | Quite distant from NWS La Crosse |
Western Wisconsin
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
La Crosse #1 | 146.97- | 131.8 | Primary Contact Repeater |
La Crosse #2 | 147.09+ | 131.8 | |
Mt.Sterling | 147.36+ | 131.8 | SW Wisconsin link |
Viroqua | 145.170- | 131.8 | |
Tomah | 146.805- | 131.8 | |
Black River Falls | 145.390- | 131.8 | |
Eau Claire | 146.91- | 110.9 | |
Galesville | 147.00+ | 131.8 | |
Richland Co. | 146.910- | 131.8 | |
Beetown | 146.895- | 114.8 | Distant to NWS La Crosse - Grant Co. |
Central Wisconsin
CITY | FREQ | TONE | NOTES |
Mauston #1 | 146.85- | 123.0 | Also serves Adams Co. |
Mauston #2 | 147.210+ | 123.0 | |
Adams Co. | 147.03+ | 123.0 | |
Coloma | 146.700- | 123.0 | Also serves Adams Co. |
Big Flats | 146.625- | 123.0 | |
Granton | 146.775- | 114.8 | N9RRF Repeater / Link to north central WI |
Unity | 145.41- | 114.8 | Link to Taylor Co. |
Willard | 147.270+ | 114.8 | |
Sauk Co. | 147.315+ | 123.0 | Link to NWS Sullivan |
Baraboo | 146.88- | 123.0 |
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the SKYWARN program or severe storm spotting for the La Crosse NWS office.
Is there a cost for the training?
Do I need to register before the training?
Do I need to bring anything to the training class?
Do spotters need special tools or equipment?
Is there a minimum age requirement to become a spotter?
When are spotter training classes held?
Are classes rescheduled due to bad weather?
Will I get paid for being a spotter?
Will I get an official ID, spotter number, or certificate?
Can I attend training in a different county?
Who typically deploys SKYWARN spotters?
Who organizes local spotter networks?
Who organizes and schedules the spotter training class?
Why can't training be held in my community?
Why isn't training being held in my county this year?
Is an Advanced Spotter Training class available?
How often do I need to come to training?
References
Spotting | Training / Misc
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Climatology
SKYWARN Spotter Location Maps
Maps of area counties with suggested spotting locations: