You are probably thinking, why is there another Spotter Network site? Funny you should ask, let me explain. Some of you reading this are thinking, there is already a site for storm spotters, you are correct in saying that, this network will be much more active and a lot more informative.
First of all the importance of trained and experienced storm spotters are an absolute necessity. The weather radar has a slight tilt (about 5°) upward. This can turn into a problem the further out you go. You begin to lose sight of the business end of that system and it makes it very difficult to see any tornado activity.
Years ago the NWS leadership pushed the responsibility to use optionally use Amateur Radio Storm Spotters for severe weather events. This gave the National Weather Service of Pleasant Hill the ability to remove our vital amateur radio storm spotters from the facility. They removed all amateur radio equipment from the facility and is no longer available even as a backup if we lose the radar.
Because of this terrible mistake, the NWS is foolishly relying on a radar system that can fail with no backup, it puts the entire covered area in danger of not having the personnel available for ensuring our areas are safe.
As of this posting July 2024, I have done some investigation and looked at all of Missouri’s WFO sites and noticed all WFO locations have Skywarn information except for two locations. Pleasant Hill and Saint Louis. That tells you where both Weather Forecasting Offices stand when it comes to storm spotting and the Amateur Radio community.
I did find out that from the Amateur Radio Relay League that Skywarn/National Weather Service and Amateur Radio is in the process of being redone. What that entails, is unknown. I do know that the new Memorandum of Understanding for Amateur Radio and the NWS will be on a National level. Does that mean we may gain access back to the National Weather Service and have a presence again, is unknown. The real challenge will be renewing relationships with Pleasant Hill if at all possible.
At this point, i am not at all impressed with how the Weather Forecasting Offices are treating our community of Amateur Radio operators. The only resolution is removal of current leadership at Pleasant Hill and St. Louis WFO locations and putting people in that respect and want support from the Amateur Radio Community and trained storm spotters, when severe weather threatens our communities. I found out that one of the WFO locations has had new leadership come in and they brought back the Amateur Community and has since been much better with tracking storms.
At this time, the Amateur Radio community / trained storm spotters are working with the local fire department in Blue Springs to keep an eye on the skies during severe weather events. We report any downed trees, power outages, and weather reports. We even report injuries so that our department can quickly respond to get things cleared for the sake of medical emergencies. This is exactly how this program should work, but unfortunately the National Weather Service of Pleasant Hill that covers a good part of Missouri thinks differently.
This post will likely not change a single thing, but at least this post will make the public aware of the danger that the National Weather Service has put our communities under.