How to Become a Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service

In recent years the impact of weather has seemed especially harsh. Images of catastrophic storms flash across our TV screens almost daily. Meteorologists scramble to track and predict deadly snow, ice and thunderstorms. Regardless of the phenomenal technological advancements meteorologists still have "blind spots'. With the scope of their view hindered it is impossible to make accurate predictions. Radar operates on an arc which leaves space between where the radar vision ends and the ground. That space is occupied by the average citizen caught in the midst of storm.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Skywarn program provides weather training to individuals interested in reporting weather conditions within their community. There are nearly 300,00 trained severe weather spotters helping keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate weather condition reports. Spotters may be called upon to collect and report rain and snowfall measurements but the primary purpose of the spotter is to provide detail information as the storm is occurring. And there may be times when the NWS actually contacts the spotter for a report.

The NWS states that an average year consists of 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 5,000 floods and more than 1,000 tornadoes. Masses of people lose their lives, homes, possessions and family members to these storms. April 1974 gave us the worst tornado outbreak of the 20^th century. 148 tornadoes in a 24 hour time period were spawned by storms that were unusually violent. When it was over 330 people lost their lives and over 5,000 others were injured. In all approximately 300,000 families suffered a direct impact with property damage estimates to be $600,000,000.

That deadly spring day revealed a dire need for more advanced warning for those in harm's way. The death toll on that day would have been lower had meteorologists been able to warn people to take shelter. The significant loss of life in the 1974 "super outbreak" led to changes in storm prediction and reporting. Doppler radar was introduced to provide more precise and intimate storm details. Weather spotter volunteers were assembled to be the eyes where radar can't see. Both of these contribute to saving lives by providing as much advanced warning as possible.

Weather spotters are citizens who form the first line of defense against severe weather. Trainees attend a class taught in their communities by a NWS representative. Weather patterns, cloud formations and condition prediction are a few of the key points. Once the spotter is trained, information about the direct location the spotter will be reporting from is provided to the local NWS office. In the midst of the storm a spotter calls or emails specific weather conditions taking place. That information provides a line of sight meteorologists don't have. The only warning some people may have that a deadly tornado is racing towards them comes from a weather spotter volunteer.

The spotter class is free and should be utilized by anyone who has a responsibility for protecting others or anyone wanting to serve the community. It is also an excellent tool for homeschooling parents teaching weather related science. Even people that are afraid of storms can benefit from the class. Most people with a fear of storms have it because they can't predict what's going to happen. They feel out of control and helpless as they await their fate at the hands of the storm. Learning the signs of impending weather provides a measure of peace and control as they know how likely they are to receive or miss the worst of Mother Nature.

For more information on the "Super Outbreak" of 1974 go to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/historical/superoutbreak1974/index.php

For information on the Skywarn program and how you can be a part visit the NWS websitehttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/