SKYWARN^® Operations Plan and Standard Operating Procedures

The purpose of the SKYWARN^® program in Pinellas County Florida is to provide the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office at Tampa Bay with timely and accurate reports of severe weather phenomena so that a timely warning can be issued to the public of dangerous weather conditions that include tornadoes, hail, flooding, and damaging thunderstorm winds.

This document defines the Pinellas County ACS/ARES^® SKYWARN^® Operations Plan and Standard Operating Procedures used by all members of Pinellas County SKYWARN^® during training exercises and activation events. The document defines the organizational structure of Pinellas County SKYWARN^®, the detailed steps required by SKYWARN^® members to activate and deactivate SKYWARN^®, and the procedures used to identify and report severe weather events. A detailed description of SKYWARN^® networks, frequencies, modes, and contingency plans are also included.

Comments and recommendations are welcome.