Severe Weather Watch Canwarn Report by Larry Gorman VE3LGN

As we pass through the Spring Equinox heading into summer, the Polar Front/Jet stream commence their annual shift northward, reaffirming our expectations that summer is coming.

But this shift also encourages the incursion of warm humid air, which occasionally clashes with a burst of cold dry northern air.  The ensuing turbulence and updrafts give rise to heavy rain, thunderstorms, and sometimes hail.  The associated severe pressure drop and winds can result in Microbursts and Tornadoes.  In both cases the boundary between complete destruction and being left unscathed is often a very sharp line!  Water spouts, as reported on the Great Lakes, are smaller, less powerful twisters, that occur over larger water bodies.  They should be given a wide berth if seen!

These weather phenomena seem to be on the increase.  And with the rapid suburbanization of the countryside, and proliferation of video-cams, severe weather is now reported more frequently than in the past.

In Southern Ontario we are seeing more evidence of tornadoes. Still, we might console ourselves with the realization that we are on the distant fringes of "Tornado Alley", Oklahoma-Kansas,-Iowa, and the Southern USA.  Tornadoes have been around for much longer than "The Wizard Of OZ®"!  This is not to say that we should be complacent.

KWARC has a growing band of trained weather spotters, who are activated each spring.  CANWARN is the weather watch branch of  our Emergency Services group.  ARES is the other, and was most recently active monitoring the Y2K rollover for the Region of Waterloo.

CANWARN trains weather spotters who report to our local operations centre via 2 metre radio.  We are also using the ULR Link for wide range tracking.  Reports of a serious nature are then relayed to the Environment Canada Weather Service specialist on duty in Downsview.  If you happen to be on air during an ALERT, please follow the guidelines issued by the CANWARN manager.

The original program began in Windsor under the direction of Randy Mawson of Environment Canada, with assistance of the local amateur radio club, in 1987.   Ben VA3BNY our program director has arranged for Randy, VE3TRW, to make a presentation at Monday's meeting.

Tornadoes, and microbursts are difficult to foresee,  and it is important to have as many spotters as possible dispersed around the countryside, especially to the south west!  The club hopes to see more members become involved.  CANWARN spotters are never encouraged to become Tornado chasers, nor to put themselves at unnecessary risk.  When the real thing approaches, take shelter, in a secure glass free location, preferably
a basement.

Larry Gorman VE3LGN