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.
- Looking back: A review of Denver’s 2009 “Summer of Storms” (Examiner.com)
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 17 and two scheduled in May in the north Denver metro area. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.
Schedule updated 3/28/13:
| April, 2013 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 04 | Kiowa, CO (Elbert County) |
6:00pm MDT | Elbert County Fairgrounds 75 Ute Ave – Kiowa, Co 80117 |
| Contact Information: Cory.Stark@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 06 | Fort Collins, CO (Larimer County) |
8:30am MDT | ARES District 10 training Fort Collins Police Services Building, 2221 South Timberline Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 |
| Contact Information: k0jef@arrl.net | |||
| 08 | Fort Morgan, CO (Morgan County) |
6:30pm MDT | American Legion Building, 16913 Morgan County Road 17.10 (Nelson Road) Fort Morgan Co. |
| Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us | |||
| 11 | Hugo, CO (Lincoln County) |
2:00pm MDT | Lincoln County Courthouse 103 3rd Street, Hugo, CO 80821 |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 11 | Hugo, CO (Lincoln County) |
6:30pm MDT | Lincoln County Courthouse 103 3rd Street, Hugo, CO 80821 |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 15 | Loveland, CO (Larimer County) |
9:00am MDT | The Rialto Theater 228 E. Fourth Street Loveland, Colorado 80537 |
| Contact Information: Pat.Mialy@cityofloveland.org | |||
| 15 | 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 | |||
| 18 | Highlands Ranch, CO (Douglas County) |
7:00pm MDT | Douglas County ARES training Douglas CO Sheriff’s Office Highlands Ranch Substation 9250 Zotos Drive Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 Phone: 303-784-7880 |
| Contact Information: randy.w0rdr@gmail.com | |||
| 22 | Greeley, CO (Weld County) |
7:00pm MDT | Note: time change! 1150 O Street, Greeley 80632 (970) 356-4000 x 3997 |
| Contact Information: gmarquez@co.weld.co.us | |||
| 27 | Evergreen, CO (Jefferson County) |
9:00am MDT | Evergreen Fire Rescue Admin Building – Auditorium 1802 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, CO |
| Contact Information: mswinden@evergreenfirerescue.com | |||
| 29 | Centennial, CO (Arapahoe County) |
6:30pm MDT | Arapahoe Sheriff’s 13101 East Broncoes Parkway Centennial, CO 80112 |
| Contact Information: AWallin@ArapahoeGov.com | |||
| 30 | Denver, CO (Denver County) |
6:30pm MDT | Denver ARES training Denver’s COP Shop, 407 South Broadway, #500, Denver, CO |
| Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com | |||
| May, 2013 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 02 | Parker, CO (Douglas County) |
6:30pm MDT | Parker Police 18600 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy Parker, CO 80134? |
| Contact Information: khenry@parkeronline.org | |||
| 04 | Elbert, CO (Elbert County) |
9:00am MDT | Elbert School 24489 Main Street Elbert, CO 80106 |
| Contact Information: Cory.Stark@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 06 | Westminister, CO (Adams County) |
3:30pm MDT | Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Avenue, Rocky Mountain Room (near entrance 2) Westminister, CO |
| Contact Information: rachel.humphrey@frontrange.edu | |||
| 06 | Westminister, CO (Adams County) |
7:00pm MDT | Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Avenue, Rocky Mountain Room (near entrance 2) Westminister, CO |
| Contact Information: rachel.humphrey@frontrange.edu | |||
| 18 | Commerce City, CO (Adams County) |
10:00am MDT | Adams County Sheriff’s Office Sub-station, 2nd floor at 4201 east 72nd Ave Commence City. |
| Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com | |||