Such notable American pioneers as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington maintained early weather records. It is estimated that the cooperative observers' time totals more than a million hours per year. Without our volunteers, the National Weather Service would not be the meteorological leader it is today. Amateur radio can be operated nearly worldwide. HAM operators often come to the NWS offices during severe weather events and provide valuable backup support to our forecast team.
Climatological records get more valuable with time.
The climatological base generated through the efforts of the volunteer Cooperative Weather Observer provides not only the cornerstone of our nation's weather history, but also serves as the primary data for research into global climatic change. On a local level, the observations received by volunteer spotters are fundamental in helping the NWS to protect life and property. We would welcome more volunteers who provide the ground truth to our day's forecast.