NWS Phoenix Weather Spotter Program

Southeast California, Southwest and South Central Arizona

NWS personnel regularly conduct spotter training sessions at remote locations around the Phoenix County Warning Area. Severe weather spotter training for new and existing volunteer spotters will be conducted by the National Weather Service Phoenix Forecast Office at the times and locations shown below:

Free training classes are held periodically that teach people how to properly identify and report significant weather phenomena and contribute to public safety. Even with sophisticated technology like radar and satellites, we still need ground truth information from trained weather spotters throughout the year. You will learn about how thunderstorms work, how to identify cloud features associated with microbursts and tornadoes, visually estimate wind speeds, and how your reports tie in to warnings and advisories issued by the National Weather Service. In addition, you will learn about all of the services available from the National Weather Service. Reservations are not required.

Classes for 2008 are finished. Please refer back in early 2009 for the winter/spring schedule!

The training classes will prepare the volunteer spotter to identify the development stages of severe thunderstorms, as well as downbursts, desert flash flooding, and tornados. The observed information is relayed to the NWS via telephone or amateur radio. The NWS uses the information in severe weather warnings and statements, that ultimately save lives and protect property.

Adult volunteers are community spirited individuals, who understand that they play an essential role in providing storm information to the National Weather Service. Spotters are also hikers, sports and outdoor enthusiasts, and those who routinely work outdoors.

If you have any questions, please contact Ken Waters - 602-275-0073 at the NWS Phoenix Forecast Office.

** We especially need new spotters who are year-round residents of the remote areas of our County Warning Area (CWA), which includes Maricopa, Yuma, La Paz, Riverside, Imperial, northwest Pinal, and southern Gila counties!