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 operator that receives Skywarn training can participate in Skywarn activations to serve and protect our communities. Fillmore County Skywarn is in need of more spotters. 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) repeater, located in Wykoff, MN is used for Skywarn nets. 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. 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.
SKYWARN TRAINING 2022
La Crosse Weather schedule for 2022 SKYWARN storm spotter training is all set. In addition to several in-person classes this spring, we will offer virtual training as well.
There are also several on-line storm spotter training modules and reference materials available:
- Role of the Skywarn Spotter – COMET Module
- Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics – COMET Module
- Spotter Course – COMET Module
- Weather Spotter’s Field Guide (Updated June 2011) (PDF)
Have questions about SKYWARN or becoming a spotter? Click here for our SKYWARN FAQ page. All training is free and usually lasts around 2 hours.
Main NWS La Crosse contact for spotter training is Mike Kurz.
Last Updated: 3/8/22
| Date | Time | County | City | Location |
| March 10 | 7:00 p.m. | Clayton | Garnavillo, IA | Garnavillo Fire Dept. 206 W Centre St, Garnavillo, IA 52049 |
| March 14 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL – via Webinar (Register Link) |
| March 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Chickasaw | New Hampton, IA | Chickasaw County Rescue Squad 260 E Prospect Ave, New Hampton, IA 50659 |
| March 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Wabasha | Lake City, MN | Lake City Public Safety Building 601 N 10th St, Lake City, MN 55041 |
| March 29 | 6:30 p.m. | Fayette | Hawkeye, IA | Hawkeye Fire Dept. 113 W Main St, Hawkeye, IA 52147 |
| March 30 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL – via Webinar (Register Link) |
| April 5 | 2:00 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL – via Webinar (Register Link) |
| April 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Winneshiek | Decorah, IA | Decorah Fire Dept. 400 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 |
| April 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Vernon | Viroqua, WI | Viroqua Church of Christ 825 Nelson Pkwy, Viroqua, WI 54665 |
| April 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Monroe | Sparta/Angelo, WI | Western TC / Public Safety Training Facility 11177 County Rd A, Sparta, WI 54656 |
| April 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Olmsted | Rochester, MN | Empire Event Center 1517 16th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902 |
| April 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Grant | Lancaster, WI | Lancaster High School – Hillery Auditorium 806 E Elm St, Lancaster, WI 53813 |
| April 19 | 6:30 p.m. | ALL | ALL | VIRTUAL – via Webinar (Register Link) |
| April 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Clark | Owen/Curtiss, WI | Curtiss Fire Station 100 Matthias St, Curtiss, WI 54422 |
| April 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Winona | Winona, MN | Winona County Historical Society 160 Johnson St, Winona, MN 55987 |
| April 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Mitchell | Osage, IA | Osage Public Safety Center (upstairs) 432 Main St, Osage, IA 50461 |
