Remember last year’s “Summer of Storms” that saw a seemingly endless parade of hail, funnel clouds and tornadoes visit the Front Range? The severe weather threat in Colorado is real and it can turn deadly in an instant.
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 2010 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. There is one this coming weekend in north Denver, two in Westminster in March and one in Commerce City in April – all are great opportunities for Thornton residents. Click here to go to the NWS site for the latest.
| February, 2010 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 14 | Denver, CO(Denver County) | 1:00pm MST | note: Following National Storm Chaser conference. There is a charge for the conference, spotter training is free. Red Lion Hotel Central 4040 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80216 |
| Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov | |||
| March, 2010 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 08 | Holyoke, CO(Philllips County) | 10:00am MDT | Phillips County Fairgrounds Event Center Holyoke, CO |
| Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop | |||
| 08 | Julesburg, CO(Sedgwick County) | 6:00pm MST | Julesburg Fire Department |
| Contact Information: sedgwickcooem@yahoo.com | |||
| 09 | Haxtun, CO(Phillips County) | 6:30pm MST | Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept. |
| Contact Information: jdavis@pctelcom.coop | |||
| 16 | Westminster, CO(Adams County) | 2:30pm MDT | Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room TBD Westminster, CO 80031 |
| Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov | |||
| 16 | Westminster, CO(Adams County) | 6:30pm MDT | Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room TBD Westminster, CO 80031 |
| Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov | |||
| 29 | Sterling, CO(Logan County) | 6:30pm MDT | Sterling Fire Department 420 Oak Street Sterling, CO |
| Contact Information: Owens@Sterlingcolo.com | |||
| 31 | Akron, CO(Washington County) | 6:30pm MDT | rescheduled… Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center, Akron |
| Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us | |||
| April, 2010 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 01 | Anton, CO(Washington County) | 6:30pm MDT | Southwest Washington VFD, Anton station |
| Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us | |||
| 06 | Agate, CO(Elbert County) | 6:30pm MDT | Agate School. |
| Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 08 | Fort Morgan, CO(Morgan County) | 7:00pm MDT | TBD |
| Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us | |||
| 15 | Castle Rock, CO(Douglas County) | 6:30pm MDT | TBD |
| Contact Information: fsantaga@dcsheriff.net | |||
| 23 | Commerce City, CO(Adams County) | 1:00pm MDT | 4201 East 72nd Avenue Commerce City, CO |
| Contact Information: RNewman@co.adams.co.us | |||
| 29 | Parker, CO(Douglas County) | 7:00pm MDT | South Metro Fire Parkglenn HQ 10235 Parkglenn Way Room A & B Parker, CO |
| Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com | |||
I have tried to sign up for the spotter training class at Metro State this Friday night but couldn’t as the email couldn’t be sent to the GOV address mentioned. I will show up regardless at 6:30 #440. If you could put me in a slot for that night, please mail me to inform; thanks.