
Madison County IL ARES
[ Net Control Procedures ][
Observation Reporting ][ Severe Weather Active Frequencies ]
[ Winter Weather Road Watch ]
Internet Weather Information
IWIN Graphics Versions
Illinois State Weather Information
Missouri State Weather Information
Active Warning Information
IWIN Text Versions
Illinios State Weather Information
Missouri State Weather Information
Local SKYWARN/ARES Information
SKYWARN Radio Net Procedures
Severe Weather Observation Reporting
Active Frequencies During Severe Weather
Winter Weather Road Watch
Madison County, Illinois Amateur Radio Emergency Service
SKYWARN Radio Net Procedures
The following information provides the guidelines for radio net procedures on the 145.230 MHz SKYWARN repeater. These procedures should be used only during SKYWARN nets.
SKYWARN Net Control Procedures
- 1. The Madison County, Illinois SKYWARN nets will be initiated by one of the following: SKYWARN Coordinator, Assistant SKYWARN coordinator(s), the ARES Emergency Coordinator, ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator(s) or any amateur radio operator appointed by one of the above. This person will assume the entire responsibility for the current session of SKYWARN activity.
- 2. The WX or WX-alert courtesy beeps should be activated on the repeater for any Watch/Warning statements issued by the NWS which affect our immediate area. The SKYWARN Coordinator or Assistant SKYWARN Coordinator(s) are responsible for this activation.
- 3. Madison County, Illinois SKYWARN nets will activate AFTER the St. Louis National Weather Servie Severe Weather Net (KC0EBW) is activated on 146.670 (or 145.130) MHz repeater. The only exception to the above is when life-threatening weather is affecting all or a portion of Madison County, Illinois and the St Louis National Weather Service (KC0EBW) net has not been activated. In this case, it will be left to the discretion of the coordinator, or an Assistant, to call a SKYWARN net.
- 4. Once activated, the Net Control Station (NCS) should immediately select a trained and competent amateur radio operator to act as liaison between the Madison County, Illinois SKYWARN net and KC0EBW, St. Louis National Weather Service Severe Weather Net. This person will monitor the 146.670 (or 145.130) MHz repeater for requests from the NWS and also relay any severe weather reports to the NWS as directed by the NCS. (It is suggested this person have previous net control experience or equivalent capabilities.)
- 5. At the discretion of the NCS, other liaison operators may be selected from the the check-ins to work with other SKYWARN nets active within the region. These liaison operators are expected to gather and disseminate severe weather reports to other regional weather nets as necessary. (See frequency list below.)
- 6. The Net Control Station should collect reports of severe weather and storm damage from stations which check into the net. At the NCS's discretion, severe weather reports should be relayed to KC0EBW, St. Louis National Weather Service Severe Weather Net. As needed, the NCS should update the check-ins with new statements or warnings issued from the NWS.
- 7. Once severe weather has passed through the Madison County, Illinois area, the net may be secured by the NCS. However, the NCS should check with KC0EBW to verify no further information will be requested from them. Also, surrounding counties may request "relay" stations to KC0EBW. If assistance is requried, the NCS should not secure the net until all requests can be handled properly.
- 8. Pending closure of the SKYWARN net, NCS should notify all liaison stations to notify their contacts of the impending status of closing the net. The net should not be closed until it can be verified by the liaison stations the net is no longer required.
- 9. Upon closure, the NCS should return the SKYWARN repeater back to normal operations and decativate the WX tail message.
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SEVERE WEATHER OBSERVATION REPORTING
WHAT NOT TO REPORT:
- Calm winds
- Light rain
- Clear skies
WHAT TO REPORT:
- Funnel clouds
- Tornados
- Wall clouds
- Frequent lightning
- Heavy rainfall
- Flash flooding
- Hail
- Destructive winds.
WHERE:
- Direction and distance from known location
- Any movement and speed.
WHEN:
- Exact time of your observation
Estimating Wind Speeds *
MPH
- 0 Smoke rises vertically
- 1 - 3 Direction of wind shown by smoke drift by not by wind vanes
- 4 - 7 Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, ordinary wind vane moved by wind
- 8 - 12 Leaves and small twigs in motion, light flags extended
- 13 - 18 Dust raised, loose paper raised, small branches move
- 19 - 24 Small leafy trees sway, crested wavelets form on lakes and ponds
- 25 - 31 Large branches in motion, whistling in telephone wires or link fences
- 32 - 38 Whole trees in motion, inconvience felt walking against wind
- 39 - 46 Twigs break off trees, impedes progress while walking
- 47 - 54 Slight structural damage (chimneys, shingles)
- 55 - 63 Trees uprooted, widespread structural damage, mainly roofs
- 64 - 72 Damage to structures major and widespread, roofs and windows damaged
* Adapted from the Beaufort and Fujita Wind Scales.
Estimating Hail Size
(in inches)
- 1/4 - Pea size
- 1/2 - Marble size
- 1 - Quarter size
- 1 3/4 - Golfball size
- 2 - Chicken egg
- 2 1/2 - Tennis Ball
- 2 3/4 -Baseball
- 3 - Tea Cup
- 4 - Grapefruit
- 4 1/2 - Softball
Lightining Intensity
- Occasional - a couple of flashes every minute
- Frequent - a flash every 10 seconds or so
- Continuous - flashes with few interruptions
Also state if you are reporting "CLOUD TO CLOUD" or "CLOUD TO GROUND" lightning.
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Active Frequencies During Severe Weather
During times of severe weather watches or warnings, the
following frequencies may become active and may be of interest to the
amateur radio operator and scanner listener. Any or all of these frequencies
may prove helpful in determining the extent or path of impending severe
weather. Stay tuned to your local radio and television stations for up-to-the-minute
weather changes.
- 162.550 KDO-89 National Weather Service - St. Louis, MO
- 145.230 Madison County, IL SKYWARN Net (Primary)
- 145.130 Madison County, IL SKYWARN Net (Backup)
- 146.820 Macoupin County, IL SKYWARN Net
- 444.700 Monroe County, IL SKYWARN Net (Primary)
- 145.110 Monroe County, IL SKYWARN Net (Secondary)
- 147.120 St. Clair County, IL RACES Net (Primary)
- 145.110 St. Clair County, IL RACES Net (Secondary)
- 146.670 KC0EBW Severe Weather Net, St. Charles, MO
- 145.490 St. Charles County, MO EMA/RACES Net
- 146.940(-) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Primary)
- 146.910(-) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Backup)
- 146.970(-) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Backup)
- 146.360(+) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Backup)
- 442.100(+) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Alternate)
- 224.980(-) St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN Net (Alternate)
- 146.850 St. Louis County ARES
- 154.725 St. Louis County, MO Countywide Emergency
- 156.120 St. Louis County, MO Civil Preparedness
- 155.865 St. Louis County, MO Emergency Radio Warning System
- 155.835 St. Charles County, MO Civil Defense
- 158.835 St. Clair County, IL Civil Defense
- 462.650 St. Louis County GMRS, KAE0995 (2 Repeaters available)
- 148.150 St. Louis Civil Air Patrol
- 47.420 American Red Cross
- 42.500 Illinois State Police
- 42.060 Missouri State Patrol
- 42.120 Missouri State Patrol
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Winter Weather Road Watch
de N9FTA
During severe winter weather in the Metro-St Louis area, several VHF frequencies become active with a wide variety of road condition reports, weather reports, etc. Snowplow drivers and State Highway crews are often heard discussing road conditions along a particular route or highway. You might even hear weather forecasts being given to the Highway Department crews which are much more accurate than your favorite local TV weather person!
Illinois (Toll Free Information 1-800-452-4368)
- 47.02 IDOT Snowplows
- 47.10 IDOT Snowplows
- 47.30 IDOT
- 47.34 IDOT (Collinsville)
- 42.50 IL State Police
Missouri (Toll Free Information 1-800-222-6400)
- 151.040 MO Highway Department (WX)
- 151.100 STL County Highway Department
- 150.995 STL County Highway Department
- 151.115 STL County Highway Department
- 151.385 MO Highway Department
Also, keep an ear to the 145.23 MHz repeater for the latest road conditions and weather reports during snow storms and winter weather. If you are traveling on the roads in the metro area, tune us in, and listen for the "WX" tail message indicating someone is monitoring the repeater. It's your indicator that someone has volunteered to help if you need it. If you know of other "good" road condition or winter weather frequencies, please let me know via e-mail at jnell@ezl.com.
If you have internet access, bookmark these sites for road conditions in the winter months! (For Illinois, it is only active Nov 15 through Mar 31.) They contain lots of information and graphics on current, up to date road condditions around Illinois and it's surrounding states: Illinois http://dot.state.il.us/operations/mo_state.html and for Missouri and other surrounding states http://dot.state.il.us/road/otherst.html.
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Please send any comments or inquiries to ljmiller at charter dot net
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Last Updated March 23, 2002