The South Central/Eastern Manitoba ARES Group is also involved with Canwarn. This is a joint effort between Environment Canada (E.C.) and the amateur radio community. Amateur radio operators are trained by E.C. to recognize weather situations that may be damaging to life and property. Since ARES is already an organized group in the area, it fits right in to our mandate of providing backup and emergency communications in our area.Most of the concern is directed toward summer weather, but also includes winter ice and snow storms. Summer severe weather includes heavy rains, high winds, hail, and tornadoes usually associated with thunderstorms.
Manitoba has several Canwarn groups, mostly associated with local ARES groups around the province. Our group covers one of the most active weather regions and we have had many callouts since the establishment of Canwarn in our area. The following pictorials show some of the storms I have had the fun of watching. Some of them resulted in property damage, but no injuries were reported in the storms I have pictures of (that I am aware of!).
CANWARN season in southern Manitoba starts around MAY 15th to SEP 15th. Canwarn training scheduled is pending confirmation, possibly at the Steinbach fire hall. Contact me (use the email link below) or Jeff Doviak at ve4mbq@rac.ca if you are interested in Canwarn training.
The following two exposures were taken on July 24th, 2000; at 1800-1830 local time. Note the funnel in the first picture. This storm did not hit any communities or towns, but did a lot of crop and rural building damage. I took these pictures from at least 10 miles from where the funnel touched down close to Brunkild, Manitoba; about 15 miles south west of Winnipeg. Photo Particulars: 35mm Camera, taken from 1 mile north of Mactavish MB on PTH 330 looking WNW (300 degrees). Zoom @ 275mm, f=4, ASA-100 film at 1/60th exposure time.
These three pictures show a storm in late June 1998 that is known as the Lowe Farm storm because it blew the roof off of one of the grain elevators there. It occoured in the morning around 0800 local time. Views are looking west. The wind was gusting well over 100 km/hr for a few seconds and blew over a grainery (last picture) in my yard.
Canwarn is an organization of amateur radio operators who report severe weather, or suspected severe weather, to Environment Canada in aiding forcasting and forwarning for the safety of the general public. We are not in the business of "storm chasing" and we do not need to get close to dangerous weather events. Most severe storms can be recognized from a distance. Severe lightning, hail, dangerous winds, and flash flooding can occour near or under these storms and it is best to KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! Stay in your vehicle as much as possible to help protect you from lightening. Read your Severe Weather Observer's Manual for more info and attend a traning session before storm spotting.
When out in the field keep in mind what general direction the storm is moving and the directions you can move to avoid getting caught. A general familiarity with the area you are spotting in and good maps/GPS are extremely important. Stay on paved roads to avoid washouts and dead-ends, as well as mud. Keep in contact with the Net Control Station (NCS) so they can give you instructions as to where to look and where to avoid. The NCS operator is usually located in the PSPC (Prairie Storm Prediction Center) and has access to current radar displays and professional meterologists who give periodic updates to pass along.
Hail; anything greater than 1cm should be reported
Wind; anything stronger than 80km/hr
Heavy Rain; 25mm/hr or more should be reported
Tornado, Twister, funnel clouds; report ALL sightings. Location, general direction of movement, size, where it started, and where it lifted
Wall Clouds; report ALL sightings. Indicate if there is rotation, general direction, etc.
Other Observations; Poor Visibility, flash flooding, evidence of storm damage, snow accumulations greater than 2.5cm/hr, and freezing rain should be reported as well!
I will try to keep this web site up to date with latest training session information, pictures, and whatever comes up.
-Gord. VE4GLS
Click HERE to send me anything to add, or your Canwarn or Skywarn experiences!
December 29th, 2009