Overview

The HAM radio network, which serves the Wilmington, Ohio forecast area, is setup to facilitate a four stage process.

1. The front lines are the HAM radio operators (HAM's) in the field.
2. HAM's will radio in there report to there regional Net controller in either Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, and West Union Radio Net Controllers.
3. These Net Controllers will then relay the information to the Wilmington Net Controllers.
4. The Wilmington Net Controllers then pass the reports to the Severe Weather Team at the NWS.  The Wilmington Net Controllers are located in the NWS building near the operational floor. 

A map showing how counties and the regional net controllers are divided up can be seen below.

Frequencies

• Dayton (W8OK)
  • 146.64 MHz - White Water and Miami Valley
  • 146.835 MHz - West Central Ohio
• Cincinnati (W8NWS)
  • 146.88 MHz - Tri-State
• Columbus
  • 146.76 MHz - Central Ohio
• West Union
  • 147.00 MHz - South Central Ohio and Northeast Kentucky
• Wilmington
  • 147.12 MHz

What To Report

• Convection (Thunderstorms)
  • Tornadoes…Funnel Clouds…Wall Clouds or any Persistent Rotation.
  • Hail > 1/2 inch in diameter.
  • Tree Uprooted or Downed.
  • > 1 inch of rain in an hour (measured).
  • Water covering roads.
• Winter

• 1" or more of snow per hour

  • Anytime

• 1" or more of snow during the past 24 hours

  • Preferably between 5-8 am/pm

• Total Snow Depth

  • Preferably between 5-8 am/pm

• When you first measure 2”...4” and 6”

  • Anytime

• Any freezing rain/drizzle

  • Anytime

• Thunder/lightning associated with snow/sleet/freezing rain

  • Anytime

Local SKYWARN^TM links

• Dayton SKYWARN^TM
• Cincinnati SKYWARN^TM
• Central Ohio Severe Weather Network
• West Union Amature Radio Club