[InHam] Weather Spotter Training

[Chris Lantaff]

National Weather Service - Weather Spotter TrainingNational Weather Service - Weather Spotter Training
Sponsored by the Tri-State Amateur Radio Society

Evansville, IN





Date:                February 14th 2006

Time:                6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Location:          Evansville Public Library, Main branch located at 200 Martin Luther King Blvd.



This session is devoted to those individuals that are involved in Communications, such as:

1.                  Dispatchers, either Public or Private

2.                  Ham Radio Operators

3.                  Citizens Band Radio Operators

4.                  CERT Participants (Community Certified Response Team)

5.                  Individuals that operate company radio equipment

6.                  Ambulance Personnel 

7.                  Certified Spotters wishing to attend a refresher class



Mr. Ron Fields, of the National Weather Service, Paducah KY, will provide instruction on becoming a certified weather spotter. Mr. Fields has been with the National Weather Service for 37 years, and is assigned as Liaison to Evansville from Paducah.



During times of severe weather the National Weather Service depends on its trained weather spotters to provide timely, dependable and accurate weather conditions in real-time. This information is critical in helping the National Weather Service provide the best service possible. A network of trained spotters gives forecasters information observed from the ground spotter, and allows them to integrate that with the radar and other instrument information. The end result is more accurate Watches and Warnings, and increased warning time before the storms arrive. 



Well meaning citizens often call in erroneous reports in good faith. They report funnel shaped clouds as being tornados, even if no rotation is observed. You will be trained on what to look for, and what information is crucial to accurate forecasting. 



Each trained spotter will receive a spotter number, and access to the toll-free reporting numbers at the Paducah office.



This training session is free of charge, and is provided courtesy on the National Weather Service, Paducah Kentucky. 


A second Spotter Training class open to  the general public is scheduled for Wednesday February 22.





Terry Brooks - AA9MM

tbrooks @ sigecom.net