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The #eWXspotter Program

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Are YOU an #eWXSpotter?

 

What is #eWXSpotter?

 

It's just an X hashtag! What makes it unique is how it is used. The hashtag is intended for submitting hazardous weather reports via X directly to us; the National Weather Service Office in Austin/San Antonio!  

 

What is an #eWXSpotter and what do they do?

 

You've probably heard of our SKYWARN Spotter Training Program which allows citizens, first responders, emergency management, amateur radio operators, and volunteer organizations the opportunity to learn about severe weather preparedness, safety, and procedures for reporting severe weather to the local Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service Office.

The #eWXSpotter program takes the SKYWARN idea and applies it to X! Instead of picking up the phone and calling the office as typical spotters do, "eWXSpotters" send us hazardous weather pictures or videos quickly and easily by simply posting to us using the #eWXSpotter hashtag! 

They don't just send us just anything though! This hashtag is intended only for hazardous weather reports that we can quickly and easily find which can help us issue warnings and advisories. It's NOT for general weather tweets, forecast information, or asking questions about the weather. If you want to do that, simply post to @NWSSanAntonio

 

How to submit an #eWXSpotter report:

What we need!

 


What we DON'T need...

 

To submit a report on the #eWXSpotter hashtag, remember to include the same three main things that a typical spotter report requires:

 

1. What is happening?

  • What we need... hail, wind damage, tornado, funnel cloud, wall cloud, snow/ice, flooding, fog.
  • What we DON'T need... rainbows, bats, rain, lightning photos, sunsets, sunrises, generic clouds.

2. When did it occur?

  • If you don't list a time, it is assumed the report came at the time it was tweeted.
  • If it is a past report, do your best to estimate the time of the photo/video.

3. Where did it occur?

  • You can turn on geolocation and your post will automatically contain your location information. NOTE: If you turn this on, the location given will be where you are located at the time you posted, not necessarily where you took the photo/video.
  • If not using geolocation, be sure to include cross streets, major roadways, or estimated distances and directions from towns. (i.e. "5 mi SW of Kerrville")

 

Latest #eWXSpotter Reports

 

 

The NWS Austin/San Antonio "County Warning Area"

 


@TravisCOSW - Travis County


@BexarCOSW - Bexar County


 

Active #eWXSpotter Coordinators:

Travis County - @TravisCOSW

Bexar County - @BexarCOSW

 

 

#eWXSpotter Coordinators

 

What is an #eWXSpotter Coordinator?

 

#eWXSpotter coordinators are some of our most dedicated public servant, trained, weather spotters! These folks not only are interested in weather, they have committed themselves to public service by providing weather updates everyday and for every storm! They also moderate the #eWXSpotter hashtag and funnel reports they receive to the hashtag so the NWS can be aware of them. 

 

Why should I follow them?

 

If you are already following the @NWSSanAntonio X feed, then you know we post warnings, watches, and advisories for 33 counties across South Central Texas. As a result, we may be posting about storms in Del Rio, but you are only really concerned with the Austin area.

That's where we lean on our coordinators. Each coordinator tweets NWS information for only the county they reside in. That enables them to provide you more specific information for where you live! 

 

Who are these people?

 

Coordinators are trained by NWS meteorologists to know how to identify hazardous weather radar signatures, interpret our products and services, and communicate those threats to you at the very local level. In addition, our coordinators are Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors, and have attended multiple SKYWARN Spotter Training sessions.