2010 Spotter Class Schedule Spotter Resources More Information

         

  Severe Weather Spotter Training 
           Photo by Paul Hadfield

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 to emergency management agencies and SKYWARN spotter groups in 35 counties across central and eastern Illinois. These training classes are typically conducted between mid-February and early April. 
                                                         

Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend a spotter class (unless otherwise noted on the posted schedule). 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. We recommend that all spotters attend this class annually. The training is comprised of all of the information that spotters need to be effective and stay safe. 

   8/19/09 EF3 Tornado in Logan County
Photo by Steve Smedley


Topics covered in the spotter training class include:

  • Thunderstorm development and features
  • Types of Thunderstorms - especially those that impact Illinois
  • Types of Tornadoes and the tornado life cycle
  • Non-tornadic severe weather
  • Spotter challenges
  • Spotter safety
  • Effective Spotter reports

 

 

Spotter Training Schedule for 2010

The spotter classes listed below are open to anyone with an interest in severe storm spotting, unless otherwise noted. If a location near you is not listed, check back later for updates to this schedule.

There is no charge for the spotter training class, which is about 2 to 3 hours in length. 

If you have questions, contact the person or agency listed under "Contact Information" or send an e-mail to the NWS Lincoln Warning Coordination Meteorologist at: Chris.Miller@noaa.gov 


February, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
11 Chatham, IL
(Sangamon County) 		7:00pm CST Chatham Baptist Church --- 1500 East Walnut St. --- Sponsored by: Capitol Area Amateur Radio Emergency Response Team
Contact Information: John Anderson - smw9trc@aol.com/(217)529-8756
16 Paris, IL
(Edgar County) 		6:30pm CST VFW in Paris --- 601 W. Court Street
Contact Information: Edgar county EMA --- (217) 466-3180
17 Ashland, IL
(Cass County) 		6:30pm CST Ashland Fire Dept. --- 101 East Mechanic St.
Contact Information: Chris Miller, NWS Lincoln - chris.miller@noaa.gov
18 Williamsville, IL
(Sangamon County) 		6:30pm CST ***Only for fire and rescue personnel*** Fire Dept. --- 9850 Williamsville Road
Contact Information: For more info call: David Butt --- (217) 527-1955
22 Rushville, IL
(Schuyler County) 		6:30pm CST Spoon River College Extension --- 706 Maple Ave. Room 108
Contact Information: Schuyler County EMA --- (217) 322-6680
23 Lawrenceville, IL
(Lawrence County) 		6:00pm CST Central Christian Church --- 303 Buchanan Drive
Contact Information: Lawrence county EMA --- (618) 936-2318
25 Effingham, IL
(Effingham County) 		6:30pm CST County EOC --- 311 Miracle Avenue
Contact Information: Effingham county EMA --- (217) 536-6169

March, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
01 Danville, IL
(Vermilion County) 		6:00pm CST County EOC --- 2507 Georgetown Road
Contact Information: Vermilion county EMA --- (217) 443-6010
03 Urbana, IL
(Champaign County) 		6:00pm CST ILEAS Building --- 1701 E. Main
Contact Information: Champaign EMA --- (217) 384-3826
04 Location Undetermined
(Fulton County) 		6:30pm CST Site to be determined
Contact Information: Fulton Co. EMA --- (309) 224-7701
08 Clinton, IL
(DeWitt County) 		7:00pm CST County EOC --- 201 West Washington
Contact Information: DeWitt Co. EMA --- (217) 935-9596
09 Martinsville, IL
(Clark County) 		6:00pm CST Fire Department --- 8 North Union Street
Contact Information: Clark County EMA --- (217) 826-6393
10 Monticello, IL
(Piatt County) 		6:30pm CST Monticello High School - Jefferson and State Streets
Contact Information: Piatt Co. EMA --- (217) 762-9482
11 Tremont, IL
(Tazewell County) 		7:00pm CST Tazewell county EOC --- 21304 Illinois Route 9
Contact Information: Tazewell county ESDA --- (309) 477-2234
12 Peoria, IL
(Peoria County) 		6:30pm CST American Red Cross --- 311 West John Gwynn Ave. --- Sponsored by Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club
Contact Information: Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club --- w9uvi@arrl.net
16 Newton, IL
(Jasper County) 		7:00pm CDT TENTATIVE DATE AND LOCATION: Fire Department --- 104 North First St
Contact Information: Jasper county EMA --- (618) 554-2285
17 Robinson, IL
(Crawford County) 		7:00pm CDT Site to be determined.
Contact Information: Crawford county ESDA --- (618) 546-5602
18 Flora, IL
(Clay County) 		7:00pm CDT County EOC --- 744 East North St.
Contact Information: Clay county ESDA --- (618) 662-8211
22 Roanoke, IL
(Woodford County) 		7:00pm CDT County EOC --- 303 South Main Street
Contact Information: Woodford county EMA --- (309) 923-6611
23 Loami, IL
(Sangamon County) 		6:30pm CDT ***Only for fire and rescue personnel*** Loami Village Center --- 100 South Main St.
Contact Information: For more info call: David Butt --- (217) 527-1955
24 Neoga, IL
(Cumberland County) 		6:30pm CDT Fire Department --- 757 Chestnut Street
Contact Information: Bill Roderick - (217) 663-0139
25 Charleston/Matton, IL
(Coles County) 		6:30pm CDT Site to be determined
Contact Information: Tom Watson - (217) 348-0581
29 Jacksonville, IL
(Morgan County) 		6:30pm CDT To be Determined
Contact Information: Morgan Co. EMA --- (217) 479-4616
30 Lincoln, IL
(Logan County) 		6:30pm CDT TENTATIVE SITE: Lincoln Christian Church --- 204 N. McLean St.
Contact Information: Logan county EMA --- (217) 732-9491
31 Stonington, IL
(Christian County) 		6:30pm CDT Fire Department --- 423 Walnut Street
Contact Information: Anthony Rusher --- (217) 825-3881

April, 2010 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
01 Bloomington, IL
(McLean County) 		6:30pm CDT McLean County EOC --- Law and Justice Center, 104 W. Front Street
Contact Information: McLean Co. EMA --- (309) 888-5020
02 Lacon, IL
(Marshall County) 		7:00pm CDT Lacon-Sparland Fire Dept. --- 921 5th Street
Contact Information: Marshall Co. EMA --- (309) 246-2295
05 Athens, IL
(Menard County) 		6:30pm CDT Athens Fire Dept. --- 400 East Hargrave St.
Contact Information: Chris Miller, NWS Lincoln - chris.miller@noaa.gov
06 Shelbyville, IL
(Shelby County) 		6:30pm CDT Shelbyville Fire Department--- 110 North Heinlein Dr
Contact Information: Chris Miller, NWS Lincoln - chris.miller@noaa.gov
07 Decatur, IL
(Macon County) 		6:30pm CDT Richland Community College, Schilling Center --- 1 College Park
Contact Information: Macon county EMA --- (217) 424-1327
08 Wyoming, IL
(Stark County) 		6:30pm CDT Wyoming Fire Department --- 102 North Main Avenue
Contact Information: Chris Miller, NWS Lincoln - chris.miller@noaa.gov

 

  

Spotter Resources

Below are items used as resources at spotter training classes. 
Note: Downloading and reviewing 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 Guide (557 K)                  2009 NWS Lincoln 
                                                             Spotter Training (10.6 MB) 

 Click on the images above to download a PDF version of the file

 


 


More Information / Questions?

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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