🚀 go-pugleaf

While I agree there is not much of a connection between meteorology and amateur
 radio, there is still a common element that both a spotter with a weather
 degree and a spotter with a ham license and some training.  That element is
 community service.  Here, in our area, we have training nets on the radio every
 week (except in cases of severe weather) and we also have lots of training
 classes available.  In those classes we usually have NWS personnel and an
 occasional TV Meteorologist help out in the training.  The training is very
 good and I am proud to say I have never seen or misreported a funnel cloud or
 anything really.  Actually, in the last 3 years I have not made a single
 report.  I have just watched the sky and study pictures and information on the
 internet about weather and attend weather spotting seminars.  Granted, most
 amateurs do not trek out a bunch of equipment into the field with exception of
 a couple radios (gotta have a backup), but they do have their brain and!
 a voice.  That is all that is really needed.  There have been some cases where
 I have heard other hams report scud as a tornado, or reporting non severe
 weather, but in most cases, when something really serious comes down, we
 usually catch it.  The thing with hams being spotters is that we see no "glory"
 in catching a tornado on video or even seing one.  We are there to report
 seeing one, then we usually high tail it out of there!  We also report damage
 after the fact and contact the appropriate authorities.  All we are really
 concerned about is saving lives.  Sorry for rambling! :)

Joel McLaughlin
N8VQJ

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