Northwest Iowa — If you are a first responder, a plant safety supervisor, a law enforcement officer, an amateur radio operator, a weather buff, or just someone who wants to learn about severe weather, there’s a class coming up for you.
In past years, the National Weather Service storm spotter classes for northwest Iowa have been held at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. But, just like everything else, COVID has changed those plans, according to Sioux Falls National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Peter Rogers.
(as said) “This year we are going to continue with the virtual classes due to just being extra precautious surrounding the ongoing pandemic. So again, this isn’t a permanent change but with things still in flux a little bit we decided that it’d be best to keep them virtual.”
Rogers says there are four opportunities to take a virtual spotter class — Wednesday, March 31 at 1 p.m.; Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.
(as said) “The first two have higher registration numbers at this point, but again because it’s virtual and there’s really no limit to the number of people that we can include at any given time. I just encourage people to find the time that works best for them and join us.”
He says while the classes are virtual, they are live.
(as said) “It’s not a recording it will be myself or one of our forecasters will be presenting live to those folks who register for the classes ahead of time.”
He says those who take the virtual class will be able not only to identify severe and potentially-severe weather, but also to list the proper safety guidelines to use during severe convective weather while in a building, in a car, and after a storm has passed; identify the seven required pieces of information to communicate to the NWS when making a storm report; demonstrate how to make a clear and succinct storm report for a severe convective weather event; describe how spotter reports are used within the NWS and local emergency management branches; identify the best methods of communication of your spotter report in specific situations; and explain the importance of SKYWARN spotters in warning operations.
When you go to the signup page, there are also additional spotter courses available you may be interested in taking. He says these resources, in addition to attending one of the virtual classes, will help prepare you for the severe weather season ahead.
