SEMNARC / Fillmore County SKYWARN Program
Fillmore ARES oversees the Fillmore County Skywarn Program. Fillmore ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) Jim Miller-KD0ORR is the Fillmore Skywarn coordinator. It is not necessary to be an ARES member to participate in Skywarn. Any amateur radio or GMRS operator that receives Skywarn training can participate in Fillmore Skywarn activations to serve and protect our communities. We also utilize Zello for spotter reports. Fillmore County Skywarn is in need of more spotters in and around Fillmore county. For more information contact Jim Miller at KD0ORR@arrl.net.
Skywarn Severe Weather Spotting
Skywarn spotters should keep safety in mind when tracking severe weather and always leave an escape route. Never obstruct traffic, park only where it is safe, be visible, and use vehicle hazard lights or other warning lights when parked. Use Skywarn signs to identify vehicles and do not park on private property. Skywarn spotters are required to have attended one National Weather Service (NWS) training class, sponsored and coordinated by the Fillmore County Emergency Management Office, at least once every two years. All Skywarn mobile spotters must be 18 years of age or older, have a valid drivers license and vehicle insurance coverage.
A Skywarn weather net is activated when a potential for severe weather is determined by the National Weather Service (NWS) in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The W0VGW 147.015 (PL110.9 Hz) / 444.250 (PL136.5) linked repeaters located in Wykoff, MN and Racine, MN are used for Skywarn nets. We also use a GMRS repeater using channel 16R (+5 offset with 136.5 tone) located in Wykoff, MN. A Skywarn net may be operated from any Skywarn trained NCS location or the Spring Valley EOC. Mobile radios must be operated on “high power” during Skywarn activations.. If you live in Spring Valley or Wykoff and only have an HT let the NCS know this when checking in. They will station you near the city limits to storm spot. When net control asks for spotters to check into a Skywarn net give your CALL SIGN, your NAME, your CURRENT LOCATION.
Please see this link for more information. 2025 WEATHER TRAINING AND INFORMATION
