N0A - Severe Weather Awareness Special Event March 15 - 29, 2026

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Skywarn Youth is proud to announce the return of Special Event Station N0A (November Zero Alpha). Operating from March 15th through March 29th, this initiative aims to encourage amateur radio operators across the United States and around the world to prioritize Severe Weather Awareness and emergency preparedness.

As National Weather Service Forecast Offices begin their spring education campaigns, Skywarn Youth is bringing that mission to the airwaves. In an environment where seconds save lives, the N0A event serves as a critical reminder for the ham radio community to establish situational awareness before severe weather strikes.

"Our goal with this special event station is to educate the amateur radio community about the dangers of severe weather and the importance of being prepared," Skywarn Youth Net manager Caleb, KE0FOE, stated. "Being prepared and establishing situational awareness during severe weather events is crucial and will help you and your family to stay safe."

Operating Schedule and Frequencies: N0A will be active at various times throughout the day and night as time permits. Operators are encouraged to say hello and share

your local weather conditions (if desired and applicable) on the following bands and modes:

• ● SSB & FT8/FT4: 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, and 10m.
  
  
• ● FT8: 160m and 30m.

Sunday Evening Nets: For operators without HF access, Skywarn Youth invites you to check in to their weekly nets on Sunday, March 15th, 22nd, and 29th at 7:30 PM Central. All check-ins to those nets will be officially added to the N0A Special Event Log.

Digital and VoIP Access: The weekly nets are accessible via participating local FM repeaters and the following VoIP networks:

• ● AllStarLink: Nodes 60734 or 65014
  
  
• ● EchoLink: Node KE0FOE-L (223226)
  
  
• ● DMR: Brandmeister TG 31686
  
  
• ● Yaesu System Fusion: YSF Reflector 31686 (US-MARS)
  
  Amateur radio operators are encouraged to spread the word and participate in this effort to strengthen weather safety networks worldwide.
  
  About Skywarn Youth: Skywarn Youth is a group of young amateur radio operators dedicated to weather spotting, emergency communication, and community education. By leveraging modern and traditional radio technology, they help support the National Weather Service's mission to protect life and property. More information is available on their website: www.skywarnyouth.net

Visit our QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/N0A

 

CW frequently/times?

 

Unfortunately, as of this time, no operators in our group can operate CW. Hopefully, sometime in the future, we can add CW to our modes.
We don't have any specific operating times for N0A outside of our weekly nets during this special event period. However, when we are on the air, we will try to notify via the HamAlert badge (or other method) on the N0A QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/N0A and our website: https://skywarnyouth.net/
We look forward to contacting you!

 

Operating frequencies please? Also, what is the HamAlert Badge?

 

We don't have any set operating frequencies other than those designated for FT8 and FT4. For SSB, we will usually be found in the General subbands (Technician subband for 10 meters), so we can contact more stations.

You can see our HamAlert badge/widget for N0A near the top-left of the N0A QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/N0A and on the Skywarn Youth website: https://skywarnyouth.net
It seems to be loading a little slowly today; give it a few seconds to show up after you visit the page/site.

Thanks for the post, and we look forward to working you, KD7YVV.

 

Nice, I'll be looking for you tomorrow night.
I don't have any digital equipment my old TS-430 will do the job ssb.
Not working SSB on 160? Anyways, I look forward to hopefully working you on all bands from 160-10.

--KD7YVV

 

My dad's and my End Fed Random Wire is not very efficient on 160 meters. He participated in the 160-meter SSB contest a few weeks ago, and contacts were difficult. I'm not sure if any of our other youth ops have an antenna that will efficiently do 160 meters. So, for now, FT8 is a good option for 160 if any of us is up that late/early.

Given the band conditions, it seems like 20 and 40 are our best bands for now. We're hoping things will improve soon.

 

Will there be N0A special event QSL cards available?

 

Yes!

• All stations who send a digital/electronic QSL will receive a digital/electronic QSL in return.
  
• All stations who send a physical QSL card will receive a physical QSL card in return.

Digital QSLs can be sent to: skywarnyouth@gmail.com

Physical QSLs can be sent to our PO Box:

Skywarn Youth Net
c/o Caleb KE0FOE
PO Box 279
Branson, MO 65615-0279​

The same applies to our 2025 N0A Special Event. We had no idea that the response would be as huge as it was last year (which was our first time doing this), and we simply were not prepared for QSLs. This year will be different.
Thus, all QSLs received in 2025 will also, finally, be responded to as well.

We did scan/post all QSLs received in 2025, and we proudly have them displayed as an interactive slideshow on our website. Here's a direct link to the 2025 N0A Special Event page that hosts this QSL slideshow: https://skywarnyouth.net/2025-special-event/

 

I will have to do my best to remember this and give it a try, I think that it is great getting our youth involved is a great thing; not only in amateur radio (which is HUGE) but also learning about our weather, wherever we are. Being able to have the skills at an early age to know what to do to keep safe and then be able to communicate as well will be a life-long tool they will carry with them.

 

I asked for time off work so that I could participate. Tomorrow night! I can't wait. 100 watts, 100 ft of wire.
Do you have exact frequencies you'll be on or are you letting hams participate in the thrill of the hunt?
I've never worked one single station on all bands before, but I did do worked all states on one band, one frequency.
This will be fun to try.

--KD7YVV

 

Thank you so much. Yes, weather awareness is something that everyone, including youth, should practice. It can save your life.
We hope we can work you and get you into our log, KO4TXV. 73!

 

@ KD7YVV, we do not have set frequencies other than when we're on FT8/FT4. We move around based on conditions, which, according to spaceweather.gov might be very challenging laster this week. Also, we can only operate when time permits; we're not on the air 24/7.

What you can do is keep checking either our website: https://skywarnyouth.net or our QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/N0A where we have a "HamAlert" badge/widget which shows "spots" of where we are on the air. You can also signup for HamAlert, download their app, and program in N0A as one of your "triggers". It will then alert you via app notification whenever we are "spotted". HamAlert is 100% free, and it has been working great for our special event this year. You can find them at https://hamalert.org

73, and we hope to work you if timing and conditions allow.

 

If you need a CW operator, I will gladly volunteer to operate N0A. I am good in QRZ.

 

Will be looking for you on the bands