[WIham] Fwd: SKYWARN: 2010 Storm Spotter Training

[Mark Thompson]

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Milw Area Skywarn Assoc. <svoros at execpc.com>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;@extsmtp5.localnet.sys
Sent: Wed, February 17, 2010 2:28:31 PM
Subject: SKYWARN: 2010 Storm Spotter Training

 
2010 STORM SPOTTER 
TRAINING
Annual storm spotter training programs are now 
scheduled around Wisconsin and the storm
belts of the United States. Unless noted these programs are all free and open 
to the public.
Most are conducted by the National Weather 
Service (NWS) and they run about 2.5 hours. 
More importantly you 
do not have to be a spotter to 
attend. Training covers storm development,
visual cloud features, where to look, how to make reports, personal safety, 
and how to contact
the NWS.  Training schedules are listed on most NWS 
websites and we have a statewide list
(Wisconsin) on our Milwaukee Skywarn website. http://www.mke-skywarn.org
 
The tornado season is already lurking. Recall the 
January 7th 2008 Kenosha/Walworth County
twister and the March 8th, 2000 twister on 
Milwaukee's Southside.

Law enforcement, fire fighters, and military 
personnel who serve as spotters should include
their dispatcher and 9-1-1 personnel in the annual 
training. They provide a critical link in the
reporting process and if familiar with spotter 
terminology they can quickly filter out the low
priority calls and relay only the high impact 
reports.
 
A lot of people ask if they will receive training 
certificates or spotter I-D's. Asimple 
answer is 
that some training programs issue 
them and others do not. This is mostly a matter of labor, 
printing costs, and available staff 
to process the paperwork.
Also, the NWS is launching a new automated phone system to collect 
reports from the public.
This nation wide toll free system uses voice menu prompts. Press 1 for 
snow, 2 for wind, etc. 
You will need a touch-tone phone and know either your Zip code or latitude-longitude to submit
reports. More details to come. I have found these links helpful in preparing of the new 
system:
              http://maps.huge.info/zipcolors.htm      http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html
 
WHY HAVE SPOTTERS?
The NWS 
needs to know what the storms are doing at ground level. Because Doppler 
radars
are designed to scan into the heart of storm 
clouds they cannot see what's happening at the
ground level. "Ground 
Truth" observations allow meteorologists to better correlate radar 
data
and spotter reports to issue more accurate and 
timely warnings, thus protecting life and
property.
 
Regards,


Skip Voros
Executive Director
Milwaukee Area Skywarn Association
Nonprofit and IRS 501c3 Tax Exempt