Sussex County ARES operates a Skywarn Net Control System in case of incliment weather. Sussex County ARES runs a Skywarn NET via a pool of trained Skywarn Net Control Operators. These Net Control Operators take reports from trained Skywarn Spotters and other amateur radio operators and pass along these reports to the NWS via a special software program. This program allows NWS Forecasters to see true 'boots on the ground' weather reports near instantly. 

SKYWARN, founded in the early 1970's is made up of a group of trained, dedicated amateur weather enthusiasts who work in conjunction with the National Weather Service by observing and reporting adverse weather conditions to promote public safety and minimize property damage. In the advent of Doppler Radar and other technologies, the science of weather forecasting has made great strides, but even with all the technology, the National Weather Service still is in need of 'ground truth' observers. It is through training that the NWS teaches interested volunteers to be safe, effective and accurate weather spotters who provide them with the needed ground truths.

SKYWARN, generally speaking, is placed on stand-by when a severe weather watch is posted by the National Weather Service. Once that watch is upgraded to a warning, SKYWARN becomes activated, and spotters are asked to make severe weather observations. After making an observation that is reportable, there are several ways to relay the information to the National Weather Forecast Office: telephone, amateur radio, social media, and an online storm report form. Some of the reports are used to send out statements, warnings, and short-term forecasts to the public via the media. The reports also go into "Storm Data", which is a publication that documents severe weather across the country and can be used to create a severe weather climatology database of a specific county, city, or region of the country. Sussex County ARES runs a Skywarn NET via a pool of trained Skywarn Net Control Operators. These Net Control Operators take reports from trained Skywarn Spotters and other amateur radio operators and pass along these reports to the NWS via a special software program. This program allows NWS Forecasters to see true 'boots on the ground' weather reports near instantly. Interested in becoming a Sussex County ARES Skywarn NCS? Send an email to the Skywarn Coordinator. How about becoming a trained Skywarn Spotter which does not require an amateur radio license? Contact the NWS Philadelphia Skywarn for information on classes.

For updated minute by minute data on weather features that impact the world visit Zoom Earth. Zoom Earth is a fantastic graphical display of storms. Once you get the map up cruise over to the Atlantic/East Coast of the US and you will see all storms which are or can effect our area. Clicking the large dots on the tracks give you the entire history of the storm as well as projections. This satellite view provides high definitiion time lapse video of the storms. The image below is from Zoom Earth on 9/5/23 showing the current tract and estimated path of what would become Cat 4 Hurricane Lee.