On December 1st, the first Saturday of every year, the NWS honors volunteers who provide weather information. They keep their communities safer by communicating warnings to the National Weather Service. These are people who are watching the sky turn dark, or wind pick up. They are keeping track of these weather events so that they can warn the NWS. The National Weather Service and amateur radio operators are teaming up. Their partnership is an excellent example of the public service that amateur radio operators provide. These volunteers are known for their dedication to keeping the public safe. Their work during severe weather events is critical, and they play a big part in keeping people safe. In the United States, nearly 290,000 Skywarn® weather spotters help the country by monitoring severe weather. They identify thunderstorms, tornados, and floods that could harm residents. The volunteers report their findings to the National Weather Service.

On December 1st, the first Saturday of every year is Skywarn Recognition Day!

The National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) created SKYWARN Recognition Day in 1999 to honor amateur radio operators' help during severe weather.