Skywarn Spotter Classes are offered free of charge from the combined efforts of the Baltimore / Washington National Weather Service Forecast Office and National Emergency Training Center. A National Weather Service meteorologist will teach the class and bring related materials. This class is open to all NETC staff and the Public.
When: February 24, 2010 2:30 pm or 6:30 pm
Where: National Emergency Training Center
16825 S Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
You MUST be registered to be admitted on the NETC campus. To register, contact Barry Thoma at 301-447-1422 or Mary Leslie at 301-447-1475.
The classes are designed to educate the public on weather threats in this area, as well as strengthen the ties between the NWS and the local community. The more spotters the NWS has out there, the faster vital ground truth information gets to the NWS forecasters who make the decisions to issue life saving weather warnings.
The class that is offered:
SKYWARN Basics I
This course is a prerequisite for all other courses. Basics I is a good general overview of severe weather for the general public. Upon completion of the course, you will be registered in the program by the NWS. You will receive a spotter code from the NWS within 6 weeks. Training in Basics I includes:
· The basic organization of the National Weather Service
· The role and importance of the Skywarn spotter
· NWS Products and the Watch/Warning/Advisory system
· Thunderstorms
· Thunderstorm threats:
o Lightning
o Flooding
o Hail
o Tornadoes
o Downbursts
· How to report vital info to the NWS
The role of amateur short-wave (HAM) radio in the Spotter Program
