As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” With state QSO parties and state park activations kicking into high gear this month, amateur radio enthusiasts may choose to modify this to say, “Warmer weather brings us together…on the air!”

Unfortunately, gentle showers aren’t the only climatic occurrences that affect amateur radio and our neighborhoods as more temperate days become the norm. As you prepare your stations for spring and summer operating, April is an excellent month to get ready for severe weather. That means taking steps to protect your loved ones and ham radio stations from dangerous storms and making sure you’ve got the equipment you need when weather emergencies strike. 

April 2024 Touched Down with a Fury

Based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, an average of 155 tornadoes are spotted in April in the U.S. In 2024, a staggering 356 tornadoes were reported, more than double the average and the second-most on record for April. (April 2011 saw a remarkable 780 tornadoes.)

Devastating weather wasn’t restricted to April. The total number of tornadoes in 2024 was 1,885, the second-highest number of twisters recorded in a single year in the U.S.

Sadly, parts of the U.S. have already been hit by storms that ravaged communities in March. AccuWeather is predicting more of the same in the days ahead, noting that based on its indicators, they estimate the occurrence of between 200 to 300 tornadoes in April.

Your friends at DX Engineering want you to be prepared for the worst. Here are a few products to consider when prepping your homes and stations for severe weather:

Emergency Readiness Packages with GMRS/FRS Radios

These kits are designed to keep you and your loved ones better prepared to handle communication and other needs in an emergency. Packages feature Rugged Radios GMR2 PLUS GMRS and FRS radio(s), Rugged Radios Mobile Radio Kits, plus gear from Eton and other providers. Choose from multiple Emergency Readiness Packages for individuals, partners, families, or neighborhoods at DXEngineering.com. Contents vary per package. Here’s what’s included in the Family Readiness Package 1 to give you an idea of what you receive. 

• Four Rugged Radios HT GMRS radios, four long-range dual-band antennas, four battery packs and eliminators
• Eton FRX2 AM-FM-NOAA Weather Radio
• NANUK 905 Equipment Case

Tornado Alert

Billed as the world’s first personal tornado detector, this device constantly monitors the skies in real-time for electrical activity, the scientifically proven cause of tornado formation. Tornado Alert will tell you when a tornado, lightning, or severe weather is detected within a 30-mile radius of your location, providing up to 30 minutes warning to get to safety, day or night. The backlit display shows raised warning levels as the emergency weather approaches. The device includes a powerful built-in antenna, 90 dB siren, live proximity readings that let you know how close the threat is to your location, strobe light, and simple two-button setup. By installing a backup battery, the Tornado Alert will keep you protected even with the loss of A/C power (battery not included).

Eton Emergency/Weather Radios

DX Engineering carries a nice selection of reliable and versatile Eton emergency/weather radios. The popular FRX2 AM-FM-NOAA all-purpose rechargeable weather radio features an LCD digital display to keep you updated on the latest news, weather, or your favorite radio program no matter where you are or during a power outage. The compact radio features a 1,000 mAH Li-Ion battery that is rechargeable by using the built-in solar panel, by the hand crank, or using the included mini-USB cable.

See all Eton emergency weather radios at DXEngineering.com.

“ARRL Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio, 3^rd Edition“

This reference book offers 160 pages of information on what you need to know about providing real-time information to emergency management agencies and forecasters at the National Weather Service during severe storms. Featured topics include:

• Safety
• Equipment and resources
• Training
• Meteorology
• Hurricanes
• Storm spotter activation

The book’s third edition includes lessons learned and response reports from past hurricane seasons; apps and social media resources; new SKYWARN training requirements; and expanded information on digital voice modes such as DMR, D-STAR, and Yaesu Fusion.

DX Engineering Shack Grounding Package

Get serious about grounding your station with this package featuring proven products assembled by the experienced operators at DX Engineering. The kit includes:

• Alpha Delta UHF Connector Coaxial Cable Surge Protector (ALF-ATT3G50UHP)
• DX Engineering Copper Ground Bus Wall Mount (DXE-GBWM-W) for use as a station ground bus or as a single point ground for surge protectors
• DX Engineering Radio RF Ground Plane Kit (DXE-RGP-MC, 16″ x 16″ copper sheet with hardware) used under and electrically bonded to radio equipment for reduction of stray RF pickup by equipment and interconnecting cable
• DX Engineering Tinned Copper Braid Assembly (DXE-TCB10-RT01, 12″ long, 1″ wide, 0.250″ ring terminals) for the proper grounding of individual pieces of equipment to a common grounding bus
• Two DX Engineering Tinned Copper Braid Assemblies (DXE-TCB10-RT05, 5′ long, 1″ wide, 0.250″ ring terminals)
• DX Engineering Universal Copper Grounding Clamps (DXE-UCGC-Z, with stainless steel hardware) for mounting up to six lightning protectors onto one ground rod
• ERICO Ground Rod (ERO-613460)

Visit DXEngineering.com for all your station grounding and lightning protection needs. Also check out weather stations from La Crosse Technology and Davis Instruments that allow you monitor and track wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature, and more.

On behalf of all of us at OnAllBands, be safe and well—and our most heartfelt sympathies to the communities that have already been affected by severe weather in 2025. Remember, contesting is an excellent and fun way to hone your operating skills for when EmComm is required. Here are a few opportunities in April:

• George Batterson 1935 QSO Party: April 5, 2300Z to April 7, 0300Z and April 12, 2300Z to April 14, 0300Z. In memory of George Batterson, W2GB (co-founder of the Antique Wireless Association in 1952), participants in this CW event build their own transmitters using the designs, techniques, and tubes that were available up to 1935, and then use these classic transmitters to contact as many other 1935 stations as possible.

• JIDX CW Contest: April 12, 0700Z to April 13, 1300Z. Visit the Japan International DX Contest page for complete details.

• IG-RY Worldwide RTTY Contest: April 12, 1200Z to April 13, 1800Z. The Interest Group RTTY (IGRY) was founded in January 2017 to promote radioteletype. All amateur operators are invited to contact as many stations as possible using RTTY Baudot Mode (45, 45) on 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz.

• QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party: April 12, 0000Z to 0600Z. QRP Amateur Radio Club International—a club for low-power enthusiasts worldwide—sponsors this annual spring event for hams who strive to do more with less. The HF CW-only contest offers all-band, single-band, high-band, and low-band entrance categories.

  In addition, the EA-QRP CW Contest (sponsored by the EA-QRP Club) will be held April 19-20. Find details here.

For a comprehensive look at QRP operating, DX Engineering carries these reference books from the Radio Society of Great Britain:

• QRP Scrapbook—a collection of articles from UK’s G-QRP Club’s journal, SPRAT, featuring the latest low-power techniques and loads of projects (paperback, 240 pages)
• QRP Basics, 3^rd Edition—solid advice on choosing QRP equipment, simple antennas and operating tips, and practical wisdom on building your own gear (paperback, 208 pages)
• International QRP Collection—noted hams from around the globe explore everything QRP, including building your own devices, modifying equipment, reviews of gear, QRP theory, and operating (paperback, 173 pages)

• ARRL Rookie Roundup, SSB: April 13, 1800Z to 2359Z. Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter bands. If you’re new to the game, the ARRL recommends that you read the article, HF Contesting-Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.

U.S. State and Canadian QSO Parties

• Missouri: April 5, 1400Z to April 6, 0400Z; April 6, 1400Z to 2000Z
• Mississippi: April 5, 1400Z to April 6, 0200Z
• Louisiana: April 5, 1400Z to April 6, 0200Z
• New Mexico: April 12, 1400Z to April 13, 0200Z
• Georgia: April 12, 1800Z to April 13, 0359Z; April 13, 1400Z to 2359Z
• North Dakota: April 12, 1800Z to April 13, 1800Z
• Nebraska: April 19, 1100Z to 2259Z
• Michigan: April 19, 1600Z to April 20, 0400Z
• Ontario: April 19, 1800Z to April 20, 0500Z; April 20, 1200z to 1800Z
• Quebec, April 20, 1200Z to 2200Z
• Florida: April 26, 1600Z to April 27, 0159Z; April 27, 1200Z to 2159Z

State Parks on the Air

• Georgia: April 5, 1200Z to April 6, 2359Z
• Florida: April 5, 1400Z to 2200Z; April 6, 1400Z to 2200Z
• Texas: April 12, 1300Z to April 13, 1259Z

The post Guide to April 2025 Ham Radio Contests: Severe Weather Prep Edition appeared first on OnAllBands.