SKYWARN
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NWS Forecast Office State College, PA ——– and ————>>>
>>> Severe Weather? see below – Please Report It <<<
*** Not a Trained Spotter, Report Severe Weather Using This Link ***
[What is the NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program]
We ask our SkyWarn™ Spotters to contact our office using the 800 number printed on your Skywarn™ Spotter ID card when they experience any of the events listed below.
NWS State College Schedule of SkyWarn Spotter Training Sessions
Pennsylvania NWS Contacts – PA county’s in each NWS office, contact information and map.
Please Report any of the following events:
Cold-Season (Winter) criteria:
- Snowfall
- When (new) snow accumulation reaches 3 inches
- When (new) snow accumulation reaches 6 inches
- Give a final report/total at the end of the storm (water equivalent if possible)
- 1 inch per hour or greater accumulation rates
- Ice
- Any occurrence, or accumulation, of freezing rain
- Accumulation of 1/4″ or more of ice on trees/wires
- General Winter Reports
- When forecast winter precipitation differs significantly from observed (i.e. snowing with no snow in forecast, sleet…when only snow is forecast…)
- Any other significant weather occurrence/oddity (i.e. flooding due to snow melt/ice jam, damage from strong winds not associated with a thunderstorm)
Warm-season (Thunderstorms) criteria:
- Tornadoes or funnel clouds (be very wary of look-a-likes; watch for rotation)
- Wall clouds, especially if they are rotating
- Hail (Please be specific with regard to size)
- Other sizes/descriptions to use for hail:
- * Pea 0.25 inch
- * Penny 0.75 inch
- * Nickel 0.88 inch
- * Quarter 1.00 inch (15/16″)
- * Half dollar 1.25 inch
- * Walnut/Ping Pong 1.50 inch
- * Golf ball 1.75 inch
- * Lime 2.00 inches
- * Tennis Ball 2.50 inches
- * Baseball 2.75 inches
- * Large Apple 3.00 inches
- * Softball 4.00 inches
- * Grapefruit 4.50 inches
- Quarter-Size (1″) and larger is severe!
- Wind Gusts (40 mph or greater; specify whether estimated or recorded)
- large branches downed (specify diameter of branch)
- Trees/power lines downed
- Structural damage to buildings (roof, windows, etc.)
- Rainfall
- 1 inch or greater in an hour (NOT a 1″/hr. rate for 10 minutes)
- 2 inches or greater storm total
- Flooding
- Streams/Rivers — also, when nearing bankfull
- Street (when more than the usual poor drainage puddles)