SKYWARN Recognition Day - Nevada Has It Covered!
Back in 1999 the National Weather Service (NWS) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) teamed up to create a day that honored the work that is done by the thousands of amateur radio volunteer storm spotters who are a part of the SKYWARN program. The result is the annual SKYWARN Recognition Day or SRD.
SKYWARN volunteers typically set up radio operations at their local NWS Forecast Office and hams around the world are encouraged to try and contact as many of these stations as possible. SRD is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December. This years event will run from 00:00 to 24:00 UTC on December 6th. There are three NWS Forecast Offices in Nevada, one each in Reno, Elko, and Las Vegas. This year all three will have stations on the air. Look for WX7RNO in Reno, WX7LKN from Elko, and WX7LAS in Las Vegas as you tune across the bands. Licensed hams located near these three stations may also participate by visiting their NWS Forecast Office and taking a turn at the station controls. (Read about Elko's SRD antenna party) |
 KD7RIN operates WX7LAS during SRD 2000
Certificates are available for working NWS stations during SRD. A simple exchange of Signal Report, QTH, and weather conditions of a few words (e.g. sunny 62F, or cloudy and cold) is needed for QSO credit.
This year between the hours of 18:00 and 19:00 zula NWS stations will be saying "Conditions at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, were mostly sunny and 75 degrees" instead of their local weather exchange. This is being done to commemorate National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day which falls on the same date. |
 The SRD crew at WX7LKN Elko
There are 122 Forecast Offices and the WX7LKN station in Elko, Nevada has consistently been one of the best performing SRD operations. This station has always been among the top 10 stations in the number of QSO's and it frequently ranks among the top 5.
A listing of participating Forecast Offices, modes and times of operation is available at: SKYWARN Recognition Day |