One of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) favored ways to receive severe weather reports is a Web-based service, Spotter Network (SN). Spotter Network accepts reports from members and automatically forwards those reports via Internet to the appropriate NWS weather forecast office within one minute.

One advantage of SN is software that spotters can install on their computers and/or mobile devices. That software continuously reports a spotter’s GPS location to the network. That means that when the spotter enters a report, the exact location is already on the report form. In addition, SN members can see each other’s locations on a Web page and within popular radar applications like GRLevel3 and mobile apps like Radarscope and PYKL3. You can also display SN data on Google Earth. In addition to member locations, those same applications display member reports with icons that show where the spotter was when the report was filed.

Google map depicting radar echoes, SN member locations (green dots) and SN tornado reports (tornado icons) and funnel cloud reports (funnel cloud icons)

NWS meteorologists trust reports that arrive via Spotter Network because of SN’s training requirement and on-going report audits. Anyone can join Spotter Network. But the system accepts reports only from members who complete SN’s own online training module. There’s no charge for membership or for the training. On a regular basis, Spotter Network leaders audit the reports of members. The organization suspends members who violate rules (e.g. by submitting false reports or reports that don’t meet criteria).

A disadvantage of Spotter Network is that it requires an Internet connection. But it can be used on a computer at home (no GPS required … spotters manually enter their home GPS coordinates once) or on Internet-capable mobile devices in the field. Another disadvantage is that members can be sanctioned for filing reports that don’t meet SN’s criteria, even when those reports meet the needs of a local NWS office. Also, Spotter Network prohibits members from relaying the reports of others.

Get more information, create an account and get the training at www.spotternetwork.org.