"The National Weather Service calls ham radio operators its eyes and ears -- volunteers with federally licensed radio transmitters in their vehicles who provide 'ground truth' about severe weather that the forecasters can see only on their radar and computer screens. ...'They tell us whether warnings need to be extended or allowed to expire,' weather service meteorologist Larry Eblen said. '[Without them] it'd be like losing an arm.'" 

--—American-Statesman, April 5, 2004

Atlantic Tropical Weather Discussion