Net History

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Thursday, May 14, 2026

21 check-ins

This Week's Question

"When Net Control activates the SKYWARN Net, do you know exactly what to report, what not to report, and how to format your traffic for the condition we're in?"

Tonight's Format: We're going to run a 26-question SKYWARN refresher. Net Control will read each question on the air and ask for an answer from a check-in. The goal isn't to put anyone on the spot — it's to make sure that the next time the WA8MAC repeater goes to Condition Yellow or Condition Red, every spotter knows the playbook.

SKYWARN Refresher: 26 Questions Every Spotter Should Know

Severe-weather season tests every part of our preparation — the SKYWARN training, the equipment, and most importantly, the discipline on the air. When Net Control activates the SKYWARN Net on the WA8MAC 147.200 MHz repeater, we transition from a friendly weekly check-in into a directed net feeding ground-truth reports to the National Weather Service in White Lake.

Tonight's net is a 26-question refresher covering net conduct, net conditions, what to report, what not to report, and how to format your traffic. Net Control will pose each question on the air. We're looking for short, accurate answers — just like a real SKYWARN report.

Quick Reference Before We Start

CONDITION GREEN

Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Check-ins accepted. All standard SKYWARN reports requested.

CONDITION YELLOW

Severe Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Watch. No check-ins. Reports only for what NCS requests.

CONDITION RED

Tornado Warning. Maximum radio silence. Only the specific reports NCS calls for.

TEL = Time, Effect, Location. Every report should include when you observed it, what you observed, and where. Use the time you observed the event — not the time you called it in.

Tonight's 26 Questions

Net Control will read each question on the air. Try to answer for yourself first — the answer key is revealed below at the end of the net, so you can check your work without spoiling the discussion.

Answer: Time, Effect, Location.

Answer: The time you observed it.

Answer: No. Remain silent unless you have requested traffic, priority traffic, emergency traffic, or need to secure your station.

Answer: Yes. Check-ins are taken in Standby and Condition Green.

Answer: No. Net Control should announce the condition and give those who missed check-in a later opportunity.

Answer: Condition Green.

Answer: Condition Yellow.

Answer: Condition Red.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: On the WA8MAC 147.200 MHz repeater — this repeater.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: Yes. Give the size/diameter.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: Wind gusts of 40 mph or greater.

Answer: 58 mph or greater.

Answer: Yes. Report the damage, location, and whether the wind was estimated or measured if known.

Answer: No. Keep an eye on it if rain continues, but major reports are roads covered, roads impassable, cars stranded, property threatened, or major highways impacted.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: No, not by themselves.

Answer: No. Scud clouds are a common look-alike.

Answer: Yes, especially with direction, speed, and whether rotation is observed.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: Whether it is on the ground, where it is, movement/direction, speed if known, and visible damage.

Answer: More radio silence. Only the requested Red-condition reports should be transmitted.

Answer: Yes. Only certified spotters may check in, but priority or emergency traffic is accepted from any licensed station.

Answer: KC8UMP 443.625 MHz, or DMR 443.950 MHz, Color Code 1, Time Slot 1, Event 1.

The Three Habits Behind Every Good SKYWARN Report

Listen first. Know the current condition (Green / Yellow / Red) and exactly which reports Net Control is asking for. If your observation isn't on that list, stay off the air.
Format with TEL. Time you observed it, the effect (what you saw), and the location (cross streets or city). Note whether wind was estimated or measured, and give hail size by reference object (quarter, golf ball, baseball).
Be brief. Other spotters need the frequency. One observation, one transmission, then release the channel for the next station.

This Week's Action Item

Before next Thursday, do one of the following so you're net-ready when severe weather rolls through:

Re-read the SKYWARN Net Reporting Guide on this site
Make sure WA8MAC 147.200 MHz (PL 100.0) is programmed in your radio
Add KC8UMP 443.625 MHz for the MICON net

Verify your DMR codeplug has 443.950 MHz, CC 1, TS 1, Event 1
Print or save the NWS DTX spotter reference card
Confirm your SKYWARN spotter certification is current

Bring it back to the net: if you find a gap in your setup tonight — a missing frequency, an expired certification, an outdated cheat sheet — that's exactly what this refresher is for. Better to find it now than during a Tornado Warning.

#	Call Sign	Name	City	Member
1	KE8WUO	John	Warren	Member
2	10/N8WRO	Tim	Richmond	—
3	KE8RUH	Anthony	Grosse Pointe Woods	Member
4	25/N8KNS	Don	Sterling Heights	—
5	26/N8CAF	Cliff	Clinton Township	—
6	KF8ETQ	Darren	Fraser	Member
7	27/N8BZR	Brian	Harrison Township	—
8	6/N8WCB	Dave	Sterling Heights	—
9	KC8KJO	Tom	Memphis	Member
10	W8AGQ	Michael	Chesterfield	—
11	KE8RZU	Stephen	Saint Clair Shores	—
12	KF8ATC	Timothy	Clinton Township	—
13	35/AD8MP	David	Saint Clair Shores	—
14	24/W8BPD	Brian	Warren	—
15	K8WA	Bill	Warren	Member
16	N8HLY	Tom	Sterling Heights	Member
17	1/KE8YNU	Dave	New Haven	—
18	28/KA8UHG	Steve	Saint Clair Shores	—
19	K8ACW	Arthur	Key Largo	—
20	32/KF8FGS	David	Utica	—
21	KF8CVT	Robert	Shelby Township	—

Check-Ins by City (14 cities)

3 Warren

3 Sterling Heights

3 Saint Clair Shores

2 Clinton Township

1 Richmond

1 Grosse Pointe Woods

1 Fraser

1 Harrison Township

1 Memphis

1 Chesterfield

1 New Haven

1 Key Largo

1 Utica

1 Shelby Township

May 7, 2026 Previous All Nets May 28, 2026 Next

Net History

Thursday, May 14, 2026

This Week's Question

SKYWARN Refresher: 26 Questions Every Spotter Should Know

Quick Reference Before We Start

Tonight's 26 Questions

The Three Habits Behind Every Good SKYWARN Report

This Week's Action Item

Further Reading

Macomb ARPSC SKYWARN Guide

NWS White Lake (DTX)

NWS DTX SKYWARN Program

ARRL ARES & Public Service

Why This Matters

Check-In List

Check-Ins by City (14 cities)

Net History

Thursday, May 14, 2026

This Week's Question

SKYWARN Refresher: 26 Questions Every Spotter Should Know

Quick Reference Before We Start

Tonight's 26 Questions

Q1 What does TEL stand for when giving a SKYWARN report?

Q2 When reporting a weather event, should the time be when you call it in, or when you observed it?

Q3 If Net Control asks only for hail reports and you only have rain at your location, should you transmit?

Q4 In Condition Green, are check-ins normally accepted?

Q5 In Condition Yellow or Red, should stations continue trying to check in like normal?

Q6 What condition normally corresponds with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch?

Q7 What condition normally corresponds with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning?

Q8 What condition normally corresponds with a Tornado Warning?

Q9 In Condition Green, should you report a gust front arrival?

Q10 Where would you find the local Macomb County SKYWARN net?

Q11 In Condition Green, should you report torrential rain with near-zero visibility?

Q12 In Condition Yellow, should hail reports include the size or diameter?

Q13 When reporting wind, should you say whether the wind speed is estimated or measured?

Q14 What wind gust threshold does the NWS DTX guide list as reportable?

Q15 What wind speed is severe criteria for thunderstorms?

Q16 Should we report wind damage even if we do not know the exact wind speed?

Q17 Should shallow ponding on a passable road be reported as a major flooding report?

Q18 Should water covering roads or threatening property be reported?

Q19 Should radar images, precipitation cores, lightning, or mammatus clouds be reported as spotter reports?

Q20 Should low-level scud clouds be reported as funnel clouds?

Q21 Should a wall cloud be reported in Condition Red?

Q22 Should a funnel cloud report include direction, movement, speed, and rotation if known?

Q23 If a tornado is reported, what details should the spotter try to include?

Q24 During Condition Red, should there be more radio silence or more general discussion?

Q25 If someone has priority or emergency traffic but is not a certified SKYWARN spotter, should Net Control still accept it?

Q26 Where would you listen for the official MICON net to hear MICON stations and our Key Station reporting?

The Three Habits Behind Every Good SKYWARN Report

This Week's Action Item

Further Reading

Macomb ARPSC SKYWARN Guide

NWS White Lake (DTX)

NWS DTX SKYWARN Program

ARRL ARES & Public Service

Why This Matters

Check-In List

Check-Ins by City (14 cities)