SKYWARN Recognition Day 2006 was held December 1st and 2nd at the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Salt Lake City. Amateur Radio operators volunteered over 90 total hours of service at the Salt Lake City office alone, beginning 5 PM Friday and ending 5 PM Saturday. The goal was to establish as many contacts as possible during the 24 hour period, using different modes of communication. SKYWARN volunteers in Salt Lake City made contact with 41 other NWS offices across the country, as well as many other amateur radio operators who were listening in.
Volunteers arrived Friday afternoon, and erected several antennas outside the Salt Lake City NWS office. During the event SKYWARN volunteers broadcast on different amateur radio bands including 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters, 10 meters, 6 meters, 2 meters, and 440 MHz. Among the modes of communication used were Single Sideband (SSB), CW, Radio Teletype (RTTY), FM, EchoLink, and Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP). Many thanks to all those who volunteered their time to take part in this event.
SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. SRD celebrates the contributions that volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During this annual event, SKYWARN operators volunteer at NWS offices across the country, and attempt to contact not just other NWS offices, but amateur radio operators across the world as well. The contest lasts 24 hours, and points are given for the total number of contacts made, as well as bonus points for using certain modes of communication such as Radio Teletype (RTTY)
The NWS and the ARRL both recognize the importance that amateur radio provides during severe weather. Many NWS offices acquire real time weather information from amateur radio operators in the field. These operators, for example, may report the position of a tornado, the height of flood waters, or damaging wind speeds during hurricanes. All of this information is critical to the mission of the NWS which is to preserve life and property. SKYWARN recognition day celebrates this special contribution by amateur radio operators.
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