Become a SKYWARN weather spotter, free class next month

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Amateur Radio Club is offering some valuable training next month. “We will be hosting a weather spotter class on Tuesday, September 8, 6 pm, at the Campbell County (La Follette)  Campus of Roane State Community College,” said Johnny McDonald, K4WND, a member of the Campbell County Amateur Radio Club.

This is a weather spotter class known as SKYWARN. It is NOAA and National Weather approved training for anyone interested in learning more about weather indicators and how that could impact them in their immediate area. “We will have Region Coordinator Greg Williams as the the presenter, and if you’re interested in attending, just come on to the class,” added McDonald.

Williams has been licensed since 1993 (original call sign KE4HSM) and involved with SKYWARN since 1995 as a Net Control Station. He became Assistant Coordinator in 2011, assisting alongside Jason Roach (KF4VDX, SK) and Chuck Angel (K4KKH, SK) before becoming the District 5 Coordinator in 2018.

“This class is invaluable to our local weather service in Morristown to have trained weather spotters. It allows them to receive information concerning current real time weather activity in specific areas, enabling them to put out the information before a serious incident occurs as a result of weather.,” said McDonald.

This is approximately a two and half hour class, it is free and does not require any commitment from participants. This is open to anybody interested in learning more about recognizing weather activity. Participants will have the opportunity to take a test to become certified.

East Tennessee SKYWARN serves  the amateur radio community covered by the  National Weather Service at Morristown.

“Operations are conducted primarily on the 146.940 (PL 118.8) repeater on Greentop (Bluff) Mountain near Sevierville, with a backup on 146.625 (PL 118.8) atop Chilhowee Mountain. Both are maintained by Tim Berry, WB4GBI. “We also have an alternate 147.360 (PL 100.0) repeater here in La Follette when severe weather is in that part of the region. This repeater is maintained by Todd Overbay, KA4OAK,” said Mc Donald.

A monthly training net is held on the first Sunday of the month at 8 pm (or the second Sunday if impacted by a holiday or severe weather) on the 146.940 WB4GBI repeater (118.8Hz tone if active).

While officially serving District 5 (Campbell, Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Union counties), the system’s wide coverage allows participation from across many counties in East and Middle Tennessee, SE Kentucky, and SW Virginia. All licensed amateur radio operators are welcome to check in and report conditions.

East Tennessee SKYWARN plays a key role in delivering real-time weather information to both the National Weather Service and local media.

Visit the SKYWARN website. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/26/2026-6AM-SOME TEXT AND PHOTO COURTESY OF ET SKYWARN)