Severe Weather Watcher Handbook/Manuel de l'observateur de temps violent CANWARN - Severe Weather Watcher Handbook - [Meteorological Service of Canada

CANWARN action checklist

On your mark: Determine if today could be a severe weather day.

Review yesterday's weather upstream (e.g., in Ontario, what was it doing in the U.S. Midwest yesterday?).

You can get this information from last night's TV news, news highlights today, and special weather statements, watches or warnings issued by MSC or the U.S.National Weather Service. What type of weather is occurring outside now? Check your Weatheradio, MSC ATAD (recorded forecast) and radio and television weather reports to find out: Is it hot and humid? Is a cold frontal passage predicted for later in the day? Are there isolated thunderstorms in the forecast?

Assess what you might have to watch for.

On the basis of yesterday's weather upstream and today's conditions, are you expecting a cold front, or isolated thunderstorms? When will the weather most likely strike? If you are expecting a cold front, storms will occur as it crosses your location, but if only isolated storms are expected they will most likely be triggered by daytime heating, at the hottest time of day.

Do forecasts tell you to watch mainly for gusty winds with thunder or lightning, or did they mention that thunderstorms might be severe, with a possibility of tornadoes?

Get ready: How should you plan your day?

Frequently check the current weather situation and try to plan where you will be when severe weather is likely to strike.

Have whatever tools you may need ready: the Severe Weather Watcher Handbook , your CANWARN Grid map, your shortwave radio, pager, internet access, etc.

Review spotter protocol for reporting severe weather. (See What to report, page 45 and the Quick Reference, on the back of the Severe Weather Watcher Handbook.)

Have your severe weather reporting phone number or other reporting contact (e.g.ham radio network) at the ready. (These numbers should not be given out to others, however - the lines must be kept free for severe weather reports.)

Get set: How do you know when to activate?

Listen to radio, television, MSC recorded forecasts and Weatheradio Canada for breaking reports of severe weather statements, watches and warnings.

Know the local repeater frequencies for CANWARN reporting and monitor them for net activation - condition green, yellow and red.

Know the 800 number for reporting severe weather in your area directly to the MSC severe weather desk.

Go: How do you participate in a weather watch?

Assist the CANWARN net controller or forecaster by reporting severe weather (see page 45). Confine your reports to the condition code being used. Make your reports brief and to the point,and if reporting by radio, leave room between transmissions to allow the net controller to update watches, warnings and radar reports.

Use the CANWARN grid or local town and city names to pinpoint geographic locations in your report.

Stay sharp. Don't let yourself be caught in the path of an approaching storm. And don't try to chase storms. Your job is to watch and report, not to put yourself at risk. See the inside back cover for safety guidelines.

Stay calm. Severe weather spotting and reporting can be nerve-wracking.

Advise the net controller if you have been operating in the network and must leave.