Severe Weather Spotter Training

March 27, 2014
Urbana, IL
6:30pm CDT Carle Forum @ Pollard Auditorium --- 611 Park Street

Severe storm spotters are a VITAL part of the warning process and played a critical role in getting timely warnings and information out to the public during the deadly tornado outbreak on November 17, 2013!

The NWS in Lincoln, IL provides on-site spotter training classes annually in various locations across central and southeast Illinois between March 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 2.5 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.

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