This beautiful enameled pin measures 1" wide by 1.25" tall and will look great on your hat, shirt, vest or jacket. A heavy-duty military post fastener provides easy and secure mounting.
A SKYWARN Spotter is a trained volunteer who helps the National Weather Service (NWS) by observing and reporting real-time severe weather conditions from the ground.
What SKYWARN Is
SKYWARN® is a nationwide storm-spotter program run by the National Weather Service.
Its purpose is to:
- Provide ground-truth weather reports
- Supplement radar data
- Improve severe weather warnings and public safety
What a SKYWARN Spotter Does
A SKYWARN Spotter:
- Observes weather such as:
- Tornadoes or funnel clouds
- Hail size and accumulation
- Damaging winds
- Flash flooding
- Wall clouds or rotating storms
- Reports what is actually happening on the ground
- Uses trained criteria (not guesses)
These reports help meteorologists:
- Confirm radar signatures
- Issue or update warnings
- Determine storm severity and location
Who Can Be a SKYWARN Spotter
- Anyone (no age minimum in many areas)
- Especially common among:
- Amateur (ham) radio operators
- Firefighters, law enforcement
- Emergency managers
- Weather enthusiasts
You do not need a ham radio license, though many spotters have one.
Training
- Free training provided by the National Weather Service
- Typically:
- 2–3 hour class (in-person or online)
- Covers storm structure, safety, and reporting criteria
- Advanced training available in some regions
After training:
- You are recognized as a SKYWARN-trained spotter
- No certification test is usually required