2013 Severe Weather Spotter Training

Storm spotter training for 2013 season is complete.  In future years, classes will remain a bit more limited with many counties holding training every other year.  In addition, we will make available more webinars to meet needs.

There are several on-line storm spotter training modules and reference materials available:

Do you have questions about SKYWARN or becoming a spotter? Click here for our SKYWARN FAQ page.  Most sessions are open to the general public with no need to pre-register.  All training is free and usually lasts around 2 hours.

Main NWS La Crosse contact for spotter training is Todd Shea, Warning Coordination Meteorologist.

Last Updated: 4/24/13

Date Time County City Location / Attendance
March 7 6:30 p.m. Wabasha Plainview, MN 64 people
March 12 6:30 p.m. Chickasaw New Hampton, IA 46 people
March 19 6:30 p.m. Mitchell/Floyd Osage, IA 69 people
March 22 10:00 a.m. On-line Webinar Region wide 19 people
March 25 6:30 p.m. Vernon Viroqua, WI 63 people
March 26 6:30 p.m.

Winneshiek

 Decorah, IA 50 people
March 28 6:30 p.m. Grant Fennimore, WI 125 people
April 1 6:30 p.m. Olmsted Rochester, MN 275 people
April 2 6:30 p.m. Dodge Claremont, MN 76 people
April 8 6:30 p.m. Monroe Fort McCoy, WI 25 people
April 9 2:00 p.m. On-line Webinar Region wide 11 people
April 9 6:30 p.m. Jackson Black River Falls, WI 24 people
April 15 6:30 p.m. Adams Adams, WI 51 people
April 16 6:30 p.m. La Crosse La Crosse, WI 98 people
April 17 6:30 p.m. On-line Webinar Region wide 32 people
April 22 6:30 p.m. Fillmore Mabel, MN 92 people
April 23 7:30 p.m. Buffalo Mondovi, WI 28 people


View NWS La Crosse 2013 Spotter Training in a larger map

(Note: Green balloons indicate upcoming talks; Red indicates completed talks.)

Training from surrounding NWS offices:

Outline of the 2013 Presentation

First Half

  • Introduction to Storm Spotting
  • Quick review of 2012 season
  • Information about NWS La Crosse
  • The Spotting Process
  • Sources of weather information
  • NWS Information / Outlooks
  • Spotter deployment 
  • Spotting locations
  • Stages of the thunderstorm (updraft/downdrafts)
  • Thunderstorm Hazards (Flooding, Lightning, Hail)
  • Downbursts
  • Thunderstorm Wind

Second Half

  • Squall Lines / Shelf Clouds
  • Supercells
  • Elements of the Supercell
  • Wall Clouds
  • Tornado definitions and examples
  • Funnel clouds
  • Challenges to spotters 
  • Spotter reporting procedures/guidelines
  • Spotter safety
  • Review
 
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