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 storm spotter training dates for Colorado for the 2011 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.
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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 today. At the current time only one is in the north metro area but more may be added. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.
| February, 2011 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 20 | Denver, CO (Denver County) |
1:00pm MST | following National Storm Chaser Conference, Red Lion Hotel Denver Central, 4040 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80216 *note there is a charge to attend the conference, the spotter training is free. |
| Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov | |||
| March, 2011 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 14 | Castle Rock, CO (Douglas County) |
6:30pm MDT | Black Feather Condominium Club House 403 Black Feather Loop Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104 |
| Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com | |||
| 15 | Centennial, CO (Arapajhoe County) |
6:30pm MDT | Arapahoe County Sheriff Dept. 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO |
| Contact Information: CStelter@co.arapahoe.co.us | |||
| 21 | Sedgwick, CO (Sedgwick County) |
6:30pm MDT | Sedgwick Fire Department on US 138 on east side of town |
| Contact Information: sedgwickoem@yahoo.com | |||
| 22 | Holyoke, CO (Phillips County) |
1:00pm MDT | Phillips County Fairgrounds Event Center Holyoke, CO |
| Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop | |||
| 22 | Haxtun, CO (Phillips County) |
6:30pm MDT | Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept. |
| Contact Information: Robert.glancy@noaa.gov | |||
| 31 | Greeley, CO (Weld County) |
6:30pm MDT | Weld County Training center, 1104 H Street Greeley, co |
| Contact Information: Rrudisill@co.weld.co.us | |||
| April, 2011 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 04 | Sterling, CO (Logan County) |
6:30pm MDT | Sterling Public Library 425 North 5th Street Sterling, CO |
| Contact Information: OWENS@sterlingcolo.com | |||
| 09 | Kiowa, CO (Elbert County) |
9:00am MDT | Elbert County Public Health 75 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO |
| Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 12 | Parker, CO (Douglas County) |
7:00pm MDT | South Metro Fire Parkglenn HQ 10235 Parkglenn Way Room A & B Parker, CO |
| Contact Information: p.lundquist@comcast.net | |||
| 16 | Commerce City, CO (Adams County) |
10:00am MDT | Adams County OEM 4201 East 72nd Ave (2nd floor) Commerce City, CO 80022 |
| Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com | |||
| 20 | Brush, CO (Morgan County) |
6:30pm MDT | Brush Fire Department 1220 West Edison Brush, CO |
| Contact Information: zach.evelyn@brushfd.com | |||
| 26 | Elizabeth, CO (Elbert County) |
6:30pm MDT | Elizabeth Library 651 West Beverly Elizabeth, CO 80117 |
| Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||