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Tracking the Monsoon
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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 unless otherwise noted.
2009 Class Schedule |
Date
| City
| County
| Address
| Time
| Other Information
|
Mon, Jun 1, 2009
| Chandler, AZ
| Maricopa
| Chandler Fire Training Center 3550 S. Dobson (Fire Training Facility)
| 6:30 pm
| Registration required. Sign-up at www.chandlercert.org or call Loretta Warren-Ellis at 480-782-2116 (if leaving a phone message, provide your name including spelling, email address and telephone number).
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Tue, Jun 9, 2009
| Queen Creek, AZ
| Maricopa
| Queen Creek Library, Zane Grey room 21802 S. Ellsworth Rd.
| 6:30 pm
| Registration required. Call Jon Spezzacatena at 480-358-3028 or by e-mail (jon.spezz@queencreek.org).
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Thu, Jun 11, 2009
| Yuma, AZ
| Yuma
| 2404 24th Street
| 7 pm
| No registration required
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Completed Classes
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Wed, Feb 18
| El Centro/Heber, CA
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Thu, Feb 26
| Peoria, AZ
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Wed, Mar 18
| Gilbert, AZ
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Thu, Mar 19
| Avondale, AZ
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Mon, March 23, 2009
| Paradise Valley, AZ
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Wed, Mar 25, 2009
| Globe, AZ
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Mon, Apr 20, 2009
| Tempe, AZ
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Tues, May 5, 2009
| Surprise, AZ
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Wed, May 6, 2009
| Tempe/Phoenix, AZ
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Wed, May 6, 2009
| Glendale, AZ
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Thu, May 7, 2009
| Surprise, AZ
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Sat, May 9, 2009
| Mesa, AZ
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Wed, May 13, 2009
| Casa Grande, AZ
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Wed, May 27, 2009
| Florence, AZ
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Thu, May 28, 2009
| Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, AZ
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Thu, May 28, 2009
| Arizona State University (Tempe), AZ
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Sat, May 30, 2009
| Globe, AZ
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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
tornadoes. 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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Webmaster
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Phoenix Weather Forecast Office
P.O. Box 52025
Phoenix, AZ 85072
Tel: (602) 275-0073
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