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!
Weather Spotter Classes |
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Location:
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TBD
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Date/Time:
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TBD
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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!
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