COMMUNITY STORM SPOTTERS
SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA
Patoka Valley Radio and FPC Radio Online are building a network of trained volunteer weather spotters serving 8 counties in southwestern Indiana — keeping communities informed and safe during severe weather.
About the Program
Sky Signal is a volunteer weather spotter network operated by AuroCore Media in partnership with Patoka Valley Radio and FPC Radio Online, coordinating with the National Weather Service offices in Paducah, Louisville, and Indianapolis. Spotters provide real-time ground-truth reports across the 8-county coverage area during severe weather events.
Home Reporter
Reports from a fixed home location. No travel required. Submit observations — rainfall, hail size, wind damage — from your property via phone or the online form during active weather.
- No prior training required
- Phone, text, or online submission
- Credited on-air or anonymous
Trained Spotter
Completes free NWS SKYWARN Basic Spotter Training (online or in-person). Reports from home or approved staging points. Eligible to assist with weather programming on both stations.
- NWS SKYWARN certification required
- Priority report routing to Spotter Desk
- On-air weather segment eligibility
Field Spotter
Mobile storm observation. Deploys to pre-approved positions under Sky Signal coordination. Requires SKYWARN certification, station approval, and must be 18 or older (under 18 requires guardian consent).
- NWS SKYWARN certification required
- Mobile field deployment
- Must be 18+ (under 18 with guardian consent)
Coverage Area
Sky Signal covers 8 counties in southwestern Indiana, served jointly by Patoka Valley Radio and FPC Radio Online. Three NWS forecast offices provide weather support across the region.
| County | State | NWS Forecast Office | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike | Indiana | PAH NWS Paducah, KY | Primary (FPC) |
| Gibson | Indiana | PAH NWS Paducah, KY | Extended |
| Warrick | Indiana | PAH NWS Paducah, KY | Extended |
| Dubois | Indiana | LMK NWS Louisville, KY | Primary (Patoka) |
| Orange | Indiana | LMK NWS Louisville, KY | Primary (Patoka) |
| Crawford | Indiana | LMK NWS Louisville, KY | Primary (Patoka) |
| Knox | Indiana | IND NWS Indianapolis, IN | Extended |
| Daviess | Indiana | IND NWS Indianapolis, IN | Extended |
How to Join
Spotter sign-ups will open soon. Spotters are welcome from all 8 counties — you choose your tier and can always upgrade after completing NWS SKYWARN training.
The spotter application will be available here and on FPC Radio Online shortly. Check back for updates.
Apply Online
Sign-ups opening soon. The application takes about 3 minutes and covers your contact info, tier, coverage area, and media release.
NWS SKYWARN Training
Free online and in-person training is available through NWS Paducah, Louisville, and Indianapolis. Tier 2 & 3 spotters must hold current SKYWARN certification.
Get Activated
After station review, approved spotters receive a Spotter ID and access to the live report submission system.
Active Spotter? Submit a Report
If you’re an approved Sky Signal spotter and active weather is occurring, use the report form or contact the Spotter Desk directly. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 first.
Submit a Weather Report