Report
Format
SulCom Summer/Convective Weather Program
Effective March 1, 2011
Before Moving Forward, Please Read and
Understand the Following:
All information below
is required for a report to be considered valid!!
Speak at “reading speed” (not too slow, not
too fast) and clearly.
Use standard phonetics (from the
International Phonetic Alphabet) only where needed. Not all words and phrases require use of
phonetics.
Use of plain language is required. Do not use “Q” signals, jargon or codes.
The end-to end
exchanges as shown below should take between 30 and 40 seconds of time.
Faster than 30 seconds produces potential
errors. Slower than 40 seconds disrupts
flow.
This format is intended to be clear and
concise. Do not add any extra
words/information beyond what is shown below.
Here
is an example on what a valid report’s communications exchange is intended to
look like.
Time
(of the
Meteorological / Hydrological Event)
"Time"
of the event (NOT the time of filing or creation of the report)
is to be provided in 12-hour format, like one would see on a standard
wristwatch.
Example:
"
Location
(of the
Meteorological / Hydrological Event)
Location
must be provided one of two ways:
Option
1
Location of the spotter observing the event
as a distance (to the closest 1/10 mile, if possible) and direction using the 16-point
compass format (North-Northeast, South-Southwest, etc.) from a valid
reference, followed by the county.
Example:
"5.2 West-Northwest Jefferson, Jefferson County”
---Click
Here for Details on Why it is Done This Way---
Option 2
Location
of the spotter observing the event as measured Latitude/Longitude coordinates.
If
provided, Lat/Long coordinates for event location must follow these standards
as set by the Served Agency:
a. Decimal degree format (dd.ddd) must be used.
b. Accuracy
level must be three digits to the right of the decimal point.
c. Map Datum reference used must be WGS84
d. Provide only the numeric components of the location. The “North” component of the Latitude and the
“West” component of the Longitude is implied.
e. Say all numeric elements of the location one digit at a time
with a very short pause between the latitude and longitude components.
Example:
42.583N 88.443W would be said as: “four two
point five eight three, eight eight point four four three.”
**IMPORTANT
NOTE**
Aloft
Condition locations (Items 1 through 3 on the Criteria page) will most likely
NOT be at the same location as the observer.
For aloft events, provide the general
direction that the spotter is looking using the 16 point compass format after
the “Condition” provided.
NOTE:
Ground event location (Items 4 through 13 on the Criteria page) should
be at the same location as the observer.
See the examples shown in the
“Condition” section below.
Condition
(the Meteorological
/ Hydrological Event Observed)
"Condition" is to be provided as
one of the items listed on the Criteria
Page using the routing directions indicated on that page. The
only exceptions allowed are cases when Sullivan Weather requests information
not on the Criteria Page, or requests re-routing of non-severe criteria as
needed.
Example for All Aloft Conditions
(Items 1 through 3 on Criteria Sheet):
"Funnel Cloud, Looking North-Northeast"
Example for All Other Conditions (Items 4 through 13 on Criteria Sheet):
"1-1/4” (spoken as “one and one-quarter inch”)
Measured Hail"
Source
(who
Observed the Meteorological / Hydrological Event)
Unless
otherwise documented, the "Source" must be provided as the call sign
of the Radio Amateur who observed the event.
Example:
"WA9QQQ"
!!
IMPORTANT NOTE !!
Regardless
of the nature of the report, this program does not accept
information from unqualified, and / or secondhand sources.
---Click
Here for a Sample of a Complete Report---
Follow-up Reports
Occasionally, Sullivan Weather will require
follow-up on a report received from the field.
For example, the Sullivan Weather meteorologist staff may require more
information about a spotter's report, or may want to know the current
conditions at the location of the original observation. The format for the follow-up report is very
similar in structure to the format used for the observed report indicated
above. Please see the Followup Report Page for details and some examples.
!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!
In
all cases, Sullivan Weather will determine the need for follow-up
information. It is not to be sent
arbitrarily.
!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!
Regardless of the nature of the
report, this program does not accept information from unqualified, and/or
secondhand sources.
Revision History
Number Date Comments
1 1 March 2011 Revised for Addition of Lat/Long as
Option for Location