Reporting Criteria
St. Louis County, MO SKYWARN and R.A.C.E.S.
"Taking the County by storm."
Amateur radio tower,
St. Louis County
Emergency Operations Center
St Louis County: Storm-Ready since 2001!
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Welcome to the St. Louis County SKYWARN/RACES Website!
Thank you for visiting our website. The St. Louis County R.A.C.E.S. and SKYWARN Programs are the largest volunteer programs of their kind in the region with approximately 2,700 trained, active participants!
The objective of the SKYWARN program is to train and maintain volunteers to be severe weather observers, providing vital services in times of severe weather. Our training schedule provides details on the most comprehensive training seminars in the region. This fine program has been in operation since 1975.
The objective of the R.A.C.E.S. (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) Program is to provide quality emergency volunteer amateur radio support services to the community to augment public safety, schools, government, and medical services as needed. This quality program has been in operation since 1955.
These programs are sponsored by the St. Louis County Police Department, Office of Emergency Management. All classes are free, there is no charge to participate, and no one needs to be a member of any club or organization to become involved at any level. Your participation is welcomed!
VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:
ONLY SKYWARN classes conducted by the National Weather Service (NWS) are certified! Individuals who attend these classes are issued Spotter Numbers which are recognized by the NWS. Anyone who has taken classes conducted by someone other than the NWS and has been issued a number by an entity other than the NWS is not SKYWARN certified and thus cannot call in reports. SKYWARN spotters who were issued numbers prior to July, 2010 DO HAVE valid SKYWARN spotter numbers but are strongly encouraged to take a class this Spring or Fall. Thank you!
SKYWARN SPRING CLASSES FOR 2012 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
Due to budgetary constraints the NWS has been limited to conducting three classes for St. Louis County this year, which have been completed. If this changes and they are allowed to conduct classes this upcoming fall, we will list them here on the SKYWARN site.
NWS ST. LOUIS WSR-88D HAS RECEIVED THE DUAL POLARIZATION UPGRADE!
During a two-week period, which began on February 17, 2012, the Doppler radar at our National Weather Service Forecast Office received an upgrade to incorporate new technology.
Detailed information about this important upgrade can be found at:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dualpol/index.php?wfo=lsx
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WEATHER PREDICTIONS FROM THE ST. LOUIS NWS OFFICE:
The local three-month temperature outlook and all of next year is now available. It can be found on the Climate tab on the StL NWS homepage:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/calendar_outlook.php?wfo=lsx
La Nina is when the sea surface temperatures along the equator in the Pacific are below normal. The opposite of La Nina is El Nino. More information about La Nina and El Nino can be found on the Climate Prediction Center's website at:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/MJO/enso.shtml
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN CONTACT INFORMATION:
Outdoor Warning Siren Inquiries:
Emergency Communications Commission
Mr. David "Duff" Barney
314-615-2562
This information is also located on our Contact Page.
SKYWARN CLASSES ARE POST CERTIFIED. For police officers, fire personnel, dispatchers, etc. you will receive 2 credits for attending our SKYWARN classes! Please ask at either the beginning or end of the class for the card to fill out. We will then submit them for you to receive your POST credits!
SOMETHING TIMESAVING AND IMPORTANT FROM THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL: The Missouri Automated Road Condition Hotline is Now Operational! Colonel Ron Replogle, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, would like to inform the public that the Missouri Automated Road Condition Hotline is now in service. The hotline--800-222-6400--provides travelers with information regarding driving conditions on major roadways in the state. Road condition information for Missouri can be obtained also by visiting the Patrol's Internet home page at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov or the Missouri Department of Transportation's Internet home page at www.modot.mo.gov.
UPDATED ST. LOUIS COUNTY SKYWARN PROGRAM STATISTICS: The St. Louis County SKYWARN program, since its beginning, has provided 405 weather presentations, instructing 14,775 individuals. The SKYWARN program currently has over 2,700 active, trained individuals in the SKYWARN observer database, of which 400+ are amateur radio operators. For more information about the Lead Operators, visit our Links and Program News Page.
CERT GROUPS: The St. Louis County SKYWARN team is available to provide training, to suit your needs! For further details contact Joe Wozniac at j_g_wozniak@yahoo.com.
inquiries: j_g_wozniak@yahoo.com
Office of Emergency Management
St. Louis County, MO
updated 05/07/2012
