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Main Index To The Weather Watcher Thunderstom Basics What to watch for Tornadoes and Funnel Clouds Don't Get Fooled What to Report Index Safety Tips How to report quick reference Other Educational Sites |
Severe Weather Watcher HandbookTO THE WEATHER WATCHER To all new weather watchers- whether you are involved with CANWARN, ALTAWATCH,
or the Severe Weather Watcher Program - welcome to the program and to those
who are experienced, thank you for the invaluable service you have been performing
for the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) and your communities. As a weather
watcher you are serving a vital role, not only for meteorologists, but for the
public and your neighbours. The weather office needs your eyes and your enthusiastic
involvement to help it detect and evaluate local severe weather events and issue
the weather watches and warnings that can save lives and help people guard against
property damage. Watching the weather is a year-round job. Not only do we all need to be alert to risks from both winter and summer storms, you need to keep your senses honed to become and remain "weather wise". What do we expect of you as a weather watcher?It is very important that you know what to look for, when to start watching for it, and how to make a clear, precise report to the weather office. This book will give you the tools you need to do your job well and participate in the drama of weather as it unfolds. Read it thoroughly and use the quick reference on what and how to report (outside back cover)when you call in your sighting. The book will help you determine how significant what you see might be. Never hesitate to report something suspicious. It may be the last piece of evidence meteorologists need to issue a warning. Who are the weather watchers?Weather watchers are volunteers recruited from the ranks of weather enthusiasts and public-minded people across Canada. People from all walks of life participate, forming a far-flung network of severe weather observers. In some areas of the country the provincial police and RCMP participate in the program, as do several telephone systems, climate observers and many short-wave radio operators. CANWARNThere are very active amateur radio operators engaged in weather watching in parts of Canada. In central Alberta, ALTAWATCH has been active for many years, and the CANWARN program, which started in Ontario, has now spread to include Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick. There is also a network of amateur radio operators in Quebec, RAQI (Radio Amateur du Québec Inc.) which will start in summer 2000, and eventually become part of CANWARN. CANWARN offers a very active program for its spotters, and augments its effectiveness
and level of participation by providing opportunities for its members to meet
occasionally to exchange slides and share stories and training tips. The CANWARN
action checklist (see box) gives a taste of what it is like to be involved as
a CANWARN spotter. |
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Created :
2002-08-26
Modified :
2002-12-19
Reviewed :
2002-12-19
Url of this page : http://www.msc.ec.gc.ca
/education/severe_weather/page02_e.cfm The Green LaneTM, |