What Is SKYWARN? How Trained Storm Spotters Support Severe Weather Safety

March 31, 2025 Chandler Spinelli Comments

At Ambient Weather, we believe weather observation is more than a hobby, it’s a critical part of community safety. That’s why several members of our team have taken the extra step to become certified through the National Weather Service's SKYWARN® program.

What Is SKYWARN?

SKYWARN® is a nationwide volunteer program developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) that trains everyday individuals to serve as severe weather spotters. These spotters provide real-time reports on weather events such as:

Tornadoes
Hail
Wind damage
Lightning
Flash flooding
Significant cloud formations (e.g., funnel clouds, wall clouds)

While radar and weather models provide critical forecasting data, they can’t always detect conditions occurring at ground level. That’s where SKYWARN spotters come in, they help fill that information gap with immediate, on-the-ground observations that assist the NWS in issuing more timely and accurate warnings.

Who Can Become a SKYWARN Spotter?

The SKYWARN program is open to anyone with an interest in weather and public safety. Participants include first responders, utility workers, teachers, amateur radio operators, and everyday citizens. Training is offered free of charge by the NWS and is available online or through in-person workshops.

Once certified, spotters are instructed on how and when to report hazardous weather conditions to their local NWS office. Their reports are often used to verify radar signatures and to confirm whether warnings need to be issued or extended.

SKYWARN at Ambient Weather

At Ambient Weather, several members of our team are SKYWARN certified. This includes employees across departments who are directly involved in product development, customer support, and weather safety education. Our certified employees include:

Monica Devlin – Director of Marketing
Jackie Fitzpatrick – Senior Brand Manager
Chandler Spinelli – Marketing & Brand Specialist
Brooke Welsh – Marketing Coordinator
Derek Walters – Junior Technician Product Manager
Frank Cianfrani – Technical Support Representative

These team members bring real-world insight into how weather behaves, how it's reported, and how our customers can stay better informed. Having SKYWARN-certified staff enhances our ability to create tools that support preparedness and promote safety at every level, from backyard weather stations to large-scale monitoring systems.

How the Ambient Weather Network (AWN) Supports Storm Spotters

In addition to training, having access to reliable weather data is key for any storm spotter or weather enthusiast. That’s where the Ambient Weather Network (AWN) plays a critical role.

AWN is a free platform that allows SKYWARN spotters to:

Monitor real-time weather conditions from anywhere
View historical data trends and weather events
Set custom alerts for conditions like high wind, rainfall, heat index, or pressure drops
Share hyper-local weather data with others in their community or region

For SKYWARN-certified spotters, this level of insight supports faster, more accurate reporting during severe weather events. You can download the app today on iOS or Android.