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:
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 | |||
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