2013 Spotter Training Calendar Storm Spotter Resources Severe Weather Reporting More Info

         

  Severe Weather Spotter Training
Approaching line of thunderstorms
Photo by Ethan Schisler     6/16/12

Severe storm spotters are a VITAL part of the warning process! Spotters provide critical, potentially live saving information to their communities and surrounding locations - and to NWS forecasters who are using the reports to help issue warnings and keep the public updated during severe weather events.

The NWS in Lincoln, IL provides spotter training classes between late February and early April.                                            

Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend a spotter class. Children (under the age of 18) are welcome to attend the class, however, they will not be considered official spotters. There is no cost for this training - just 2 to 3 hours of your time for the class.

The spotter training class is designed for people new to severe storm spotting, as well as those that need refresher training. The training is comprised of all of the information that spotters need to be effective and stay safe. 

            
Tornado near Champaign, IL                                                           Roll Cloud north of Lincoln NWS office
Photo by Eric Sebens    05/01/12                                                   Photo by NWS Lincoln     09/07/12



Topics covered in the spotter training class include:

  • Spotter Safety

  • Thunderstorm development and features

  • Types of Thunderstorms - especially those that impact Illinois

  • Types of Tornadoes, Landspouts and Gustnadoes

  • Non-tornadic severe weather (T-storm Wind Gusts, Large Hail & Flooding)

  • Resources for Spotters

  • How and What Spotters Need to Report

 

Spotter Training Schedule for 2013

Spotter classes are typically held between late-February and early April in central and eastern Illinois.

NOTE: Spotter classes listed here are open to EVERYONE, not just people that live in the city or county where the class is taught. The NWS Lincoln will be teaching fewer spotter classes this year, so please try to attend one of the classes listed below.

Unless otherwise noted below, pre-registration or reservations are not required.



February, 2013 - Completed
Day City, State Time Location
28 Effingham, IL
(Effingham County) 		6:30pm CST County EOC --- 311 Miracle Avenue

March, 2013 - Completed
Day City, State Time Location
04 Springfield, IL
(Sangamon County) 		6:30pm CST Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) Menard Hall, Student Union --- 5250 Shepherd Road
06 Newton, IL
(Jasper County) 		6:00pm CST Fire Department --- 104 North First Ave
07 Normal, IL
(McLean County) 		6:30pm CST Heartland Community College - Astroth Community Education Center -Auditorium, 1500 West Raab Road
11 Lawrenceville, IL
(Lawrence County) 		6:00pm CDT Central Christian Church --- 303 Buchanan Drive
12 Monticello, IL
(Piatt County) 		6:30pm CDT Monticello High School (Auditoriuim) - Jefferson and State Streets
13 Lacon, IL
(Marshall County) 		6:30pm CDT Lacon-Sparland Fire Dept. --- 921 5th Street
14 Charleston, IL
(Coles County) 		6:30pm CDT Eastern Illinois University, Buzzard Hall Auditorium--- 1920 9th Street (Parking available on 9th Street side of building)
18 Decatur, IL
(Macon County) 		6:30pm CDT Richland Community College, Schilling Center --- 1 College Park
19 Jacksonville, IL
(Morgan County) 		6:30pm CDT Jacksonville High School Auditorium --- 1211 North Diamond Street-------- NOTE: An ASL interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired.
20 East Peoria, IL
(Tazewell County) 		6:30pm CDT Par-a-Dice Hotel (Salon A) --- 7 Blackjack Boulevard
21 Urbana, IL
(Champaign County) 		6:30pm CDT U of I Digital Computer Lab (ROOM 1320) --- 1304 West Springfield Ave.
26 Lincoln, IL
(Logan County) 		6:30pm CDT Lincoln Christian Church - Fellowship Center --- 204 N. McLean Street
27 Casey, IL
(Clark County) 		6:00pm CDT Bolin Enterprise Inc --- Intersection of U.S. 40 and N.E. 15th St.
28 Taylorville, IL
(Christian County) 		6:30pm CDT Fire Department --- 202 North Main Street

April, 2013 - Completed
Day City, State Time Location
02 Tilton, IL
(Vermilion County) 		6:30pm CDT Public Works Building 301 Fairfield St. (near the Carl Gruber Sports Complex)
03 Canton, IL
(Fulton County) 		6:30pm CDT Spoon River College - Engle Hall Conference Center
08 Toledo, IL
(Cumberland County) 		6:30pm CDT Fire Department --- 160 Courthouse Square
09 El Paso, IL
(Woodford County) 		6:30pm CDT South Pointe Park Community Building --- 523 South Sycamore
22 Ashland, IL
(Cass County) 		6:30pm CDT Fire Department -- 100 East Mechanic Street (Intersection of Mechanic and Yates Streets)
There are currently no outreach events scheduled.

 For questions regarding any of the listed spotter classes in central or southeast IL, contact NWS Lincoln WCM, Chris Miller at chris.miller@noaa.gov

 

  Spotter Resources

1) Online Spotter Training Classes (through UCAR MetEd)

There is NO COST to take the two classes which make up this training: "Role of the SKYWARN Spotter" and "SKYWARN Spotter Convective Basics".

All you need is a login account & password on the MetEd web page.

 Click the image to the left to get started!

Important Note: You are still HIGHLY encouraged to attend a spotter training class in or near your area to learn about local effects and local reporting procedures. These online classes are intended as either a brief introduction to severe storm spotting OR as a refresher for spotters who have attended a class in the last few years.

 

2) Additional Resources for Storm Spotters

Note: Utilizing these items does NOT make you a trained spotter. These are intended as resource material only. If you have an interest in storm spotting please attend a spotter class in your area.


                        

Spotter's Field Guide (1.9 MB PDF)                       2012 NWS Lincoln 
                                                                                Spotter Training (32.5 MB  PDF) 

 
Planning Resources for Spotters - NWS Lincoln Web Products (1.8 MB PDF) 


From the Storm Prediction Center:

             
                                                                                                                                             Photo by Brittney Misialek

Frequently Asked Questions                         Facts About Derechos
About Tornadoes

 


Severe Weather Reporting

I) How to Make a Report

If you observe severe weather in central or southeast Illinois, please make a report as safely & as soon as possible to one of the following locations:

  • The local / county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) or Emergency Services & Disaster Agency (ESDA)

  • The National Weather Service in Lincoln
  • The county sheriff's office or local police department

II) What to report 

1.       Tornadoes

2.       Funnel Clouds, Rotating Wall Clouds or any other rotations

3.       Flooding / Heavy Rain
a.      Rapidly rising creeks, streams or rivers.

b.      High water on city streets or rural roads, 6” or more in depth AND any road closures, especially in areas that do not normally flood.

c.       Heavy rainfall that is accumulating at rates of 1 inch per hour. 

4.       High Wind – around 60 mph and greater or ANY WIND DAMAGE
(Note: Report high wind even if it is not associated with a thunderstorm)

a.       40 to 55 mph – small tree branches broken off

b.      55 to 70 mph – large tree branches broken off, shallow rooted trees 
blown over, damage to chimneys, guttering, roofing and sheds.

c.       Greater than 70 mph – heavy damage to structures such as roofing torn off, power poles snapped, trailers overturned, large trees blown over. 

     5.  Large Hail (1.00" or greater in diameter)

Hail Size
Description
Hail Size
Description
0.25”
Pea
1.75”
Golf Ball
0.50”
One Half Inch
2.00”
Lime
0.75”
Penny
2.50”
Tennis Ball
0.88”
Nickel
2.75”
Baseball
1.00”
Quarter
3.00”
Large Apple
1.25”
Half-Dollar
4.00”
Softball
1.50”
Ping-Pong Ball
4.50”
Grapefruit

    
      6. Lightning Damage

              a.   Injuries or fatalities due to a lightning strike

              b.   Property damage due to a lightning strike

 

 

More Information / Questions?

If you have any questions about spotter training classes in central or southeast Illinois contact Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chris Miller at chris.miller@noaa.gov

 

 


 

 

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