Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado – from blizzards to tornadoes we can and do see it all. Each year the weather is responsible for claiming lives in our state and across the nation and the threat is very real. Storm spotter training allows you to learn how to protect yourself and your family while providing a public service.
Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family. Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.
The National Weather Service Denver / Boulder office has announced a series of Skywarn storm spotter training dates for Colorado for the 2013 season.
The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters. These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes. Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.
Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.
By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter. When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.
These are great sessions for anyone wanting to learn more about the severe weather we experience in Colorado, whether you want to be an official spotter or not. All training is free. Topics include:
- Basics of thunderstorm development
- Fundamentals of storm structure
- Identifying potential severe weather features
- Information to report
- How to report information
- Basic severe weather safety
To learn more about the program, see here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/awebphp/spotter.php
Below are the dates, times and locations announced thus far with the first occurring on Sunday, February 16. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.
Schedule updated 4/6/14:
| April, 2014 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 07 | Loveland, CO (Larimer County) |
9:00am MDT | The Rialto Theater 228 E. Fourth Street Loveland, Colorado 80537 |
| Contact Information: mialyp@ci.loveland.co.us | |||
| 07 | Fort Collins, CO (Larimer County) |
6:30pm MDT | Fort Collins Police Services Building, Community Service Room 2221 S. Timberline Drive Fort Collins Colorado |
| Contact Information: migavin@poudre-fire.org | |||
| 10 | New Raymer , CO (Weld County) |
6:30pm MDT | New Raymer Community Building 25 Shirley Ave. New Raymer, CO |
| Contact Information: dustin@dustinpricephotography.com | |||
| 12 | Kiowa, CO (Elbert County) |
9:00am MDT | Old County Courthouse Second floor, 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa, CO 80117 |
| Contact Information: brandon.lenderink@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 14 | Akron, CO (Washington County) |
6:30pm MDT | Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center 551 E. Second Street, Akron, CO |
| Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us | |||
| 15 | Greeley, CO (Weld County) |
6:30pm MDT | Weld County Administration Building, 1150 O Street, Greeley, CO |
| Contact Information: gmarquez@co.weld.co.us | |||
| 19 | Commerce City, CO (Adams County) |
10:00am MDT | Sheriff’s Substation Conference Room, 4201 E. 72nd Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022 |
| Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com | |||
| 21 | Centennial, CO (Arapahoe County) |
6:30pm MDT | Arapahoe County Sheriff, 13101 East Broncoes Parkway, Centennial, CO |
| Contact Information: awallin@arapahoegov.com | |||
| 24 | Aurora, CO (Arapahoe County) |
6:00pm MDT | Aurora Central Library 14949 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80012. |
| Contact Information: acox@auroragov.org | |||
| 26 | Strasburg, CO (Adams County) |
10:00am MDT | Strasburg Fire Department Conference Room, 56281 E. Colfax Ave., Strasburg, CO 80136 |
| Contact Information: tmccall@svfd8.org | |||
| 28 | Parker, CO (Douglas County) |
6:30pm MDT | Parker Police 18600 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy Parker, CO 80134 |
| Contact Information: khenry@parkeronline.org | |||
| 29 | Littleton, CO (Jefferson County) |
10:00am MDT | Foothills Park and Recreation District 6612 S. Ward Street, Littleton, CO 80127. |
| Contact Information: lisan@fhprd.org | |||
| 29 | Denver, CO (Denver County) |
7:00pm MDT | Red Cross facility 444 Sherman St., Denver Co |
| Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com | |||
| May, 2014 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 01 | Hugo, CO (Lincoln County) |
2:00pm MDT | Lincoln County Courthouse 103 3rd Street, Hugo, CO 80821 |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 01 | Hugo, CO (Lincoln County) |
6:30pm MDT | Lincoln County Courthouse 103 3rd Street, Hugo, CO 80821 |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 06 | Boulder, CO (Boulder County) |
6:30pm MDT | SHHQ TrainingRoom 5600 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder |
| Contact Information: fgonzales@bouldercounty.org | |||
| 08 | Thornton, CO (Adams County) |
6:00pm MDT | Thornton City Hall 1st Floor Training Room, 9500 Civic Center Drive, Thornton, CO 80229 |
| Contact Information: gene.putman@cityofthornton.net | |||