Storm Spotters Go National

By Bonnie Davidson

The Courier

The annual Skywarn Radio event took place this weekend at the National Weather Service in Glasgow. They started broadcasting around 5 p.m. Friday and continued through Saturday at 5 p.m.

It sounded a little like a foreign language as they made ham radio calls out to other stations all over the country. Their goal was to reach as many as they could in 24-hour period as part of this storm spotter program.

A few veterans and a few first time amateurs were spotted during the event.

Scotty Gray, who has been using ham radios for a number years, explained that it's kind of a fun hobby that can help in times of need when communication gets knocked down during weather events and emergencies.

The Skywarn Radio event takes place the first weekend in every December. Gray said that they don't actually stay overnight as the positioning of satellites and other factors prevent them from making calls not long after 9 p.m.

“The sunspot cycle affects the time of day that you can get through,” Ethan Pedde said.

Gray explained that people like to learn about ham radio and get licensed. It's kind of a fun pastime that allows them to learn about electronics, radio and learn how to talk to people around the country.

“It's kind of a nostalgia of how things used to be,” Mike Fransen said.

The radios helped during WWII efforts, and Pedde explained that they came into play during 9/11 as several communications went down in New York City. Ham radio operators need to obtain a license to use the system. Many weather service workers use Ham radios, as well as law enforcement and emergency medical service workers.

Pedde explained that in particular people in the Southern states can use the radios during tornados and other major weather events.

When asked about what draws them to the event each year, a few quickly answered the biscuits and gravy made by Tanja Fransen each year. But it's clear that many find the hobby a time to learn and a time to communicate.