Skywarn Weather Classes Scheduled For This Spring

(KNSI) – Storm spotter classes are back in preparation for severe weather season.

The schedule includes St. Cloud on March 26th on the SCSU campus, plus other sessions in Upsala on March 17th and Waite Park on April 3rd. Meteorologist Brennan Dettmann says the classes are designed for people age 16 and up.

“We often will, kind of, curate it based on the overall knowledge level of the class that’s attending. So, it’s overall a great opportunity for somebody to learn about weather if they’re kind of curious and don’t have that full background yet.”

Once you complete the three-hour session, you are a certified Skywarn weather spotter. Dettmann says the accreditation lasts for a lifetime, but staff recommends brushing up on your skills every couple of years.

You learn how to identify severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and measure precipitation. It also covers winter weather like blizzards and snowfall totals. Dettmann says Minnesota has a radar hole, so eyes and ears are a huge help to forecasters.

“There’s a certain point where you get further out from the radar and into these more rural communities. There’s less people to see what’s going on and there’s less of a way for us to see what’s going on through the radar and other instruments that we have so [its] massively important to be able to have that support from the public.”

The class set for St. Cloud State University is scheduled from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on March 26th. It is free to attend. To register, email Assistant Professor of Meteorology and Science Education Rachel Humphrey at rhumphrey@stcloudstate.edu.

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