Spotters what to report and not report to the National Weather Service.
Please Submit Reports on All:
- Tornadoes
- Funnel Clouds
- Waterspouts
- Wall Clouds
- Shelf Clouds
- Hail
- Storm Damage
- Flooding
- Heavy Rainfall
- Winter Weather
What To Report
- Wind of 58 mph or greater
- Hail of any size
- Funnel with rotation, or rotation in the clouds
- Tornado on the ground
- Rotating wall cloud
- Local flooding (flash flood)
- Property damage
- When - Start time and, if possible, duration of event.
- Where - Location(s) of event (or path)
- What - Types of severe weather observed
- Your phone number (if we need additional information)
What Not To Report
- Do not call the Grand Rapids weather service if we have a local severe weather net active
- Big black clouds (BBC)
- Rain (Net control already knows that it's raining)
- Wind less than 58 mph
- It's not raining
- Scud clouds
Report Hail of Any Size
Hail Reference Chart
Pea – 0.25" Plain M&M – 0.50" Penny – 0.75" Nickel – 0.88" Quarter – 1.00" Half Dollar – 1.25" Ping Pong – 1.50" |
Golf Ball – 1.75" Lime – 2.00" Tennis Ball – 2.50" Baseball – 2.75" Large Apple – 3.00" Softball – 4.00" Grapefruit – 4.50" |
Amateur Radio Operators that have joined a dedicated formal SKYWARN Net
- Please Do Not Call The National Weather Services
1-800 NUMBER! - Submit all your reports to the net control operator.
- Net control will relay all reports to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.
Amateur spotters with SKYWARN training who are not Amateur Radio Operators
- Call the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids reporting number:
1-800-647-3836 - Submit reports on the web: Weather Spotter Report Form
GRAND RAPIDS: GRR
NWS Office, NOAA
4899 South Complex Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-4034
(616) 949-0643, Ext. 726
Contact: Jim Maczko
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.weather.gov/grr/
This information was verified with the Grand Rapids Weather Service
May 21, 2013 by Dave Smith