NWS La Crosse Skywarn Schedule

2019 Spotter Training

Dates for storm spotter training in 2019 are set. Training for this season will occur thru the end of this month (April 2019).

In addition, there are several on-line storm spotter training modules and reference materials available:

Role of the Skywarn Spotter - COMET Module
Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics - COMET Module
Spotter Course - COMET Module
Weather Spotter's Field Guide (Updated June 2011) (PDF)

Do you have questions about SKYWARN or becoming a spotter? Click here for our SKYWARN FAQ page. Most sessions are open to the general public with no need to pre-register. All training is free and usually lasts around 2 hours.

Main NWS La Crosse contact for spotter training is Todd Shea, Warning Coordination Meteorologist.

Last Updated: 4/17/19

Date	Time	County	City	Location / Attendance
March 4	6:30 p.m.	Fillmore	Chatfield, MN	57 people
March 12	6:30 p.m.	La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	51 people
March 14	7:00 p.m.	Clayton	Edgewood, IA	90 people
March 18	6:30 p.m.	Olmsted	Rochester, MN	247 people
March 20	1:00 p.m.	ALL	NWS La Crosse Service Area	On-line Webinar
March 25	6:30 p.m.	Vernon	Viroqua, WI	60 people
March 26	6:30 p.m.	Chickasaw	New Hampton, IA	60 people
March 28	7:00 p.m.	ALL	NWS La Crosse Service Area	On-line Webinar
April 2	6:30 p.m.	Dodge	Kasson, MN	128 people
April 3	6:30 p.m.	Winona	Winona, MN	94 people
April 8	6:30 p.m.	Jackson / Ho-Chunk Nation	Black River Falls, WI	17 people
April 9	6:30 p.m.	Winneshiek	Ossian, IA	49 people
April 10	6:30 p.m.	Taylor	Medford, WI	33 people
April 11	6:30 p.m.	Mitchell	Osage, IA	(CLASS WAS RESCHEDULED to 5/7/19)
April 15	6:30 p.m.	Adams	Adams, WI	16 people
April 16	6:30 p.m.	Wabasha	Lake City, MN	55 people
April 22	6:30 p.m.	Grant	Platteville, WI	Fire Station
April 23	7:00 p.m.	ALL	NWS La Crosse Service Area	On-line Webinar (Register - click here)
May 7	6:30 p.m.	Mitchell	Osage, IA	Mitchell County Conservation (Rescheduled class from Apr.11th)

Surrounding NWS Forecast Office Spotter Schedules:

Outline of the 2019 Presentation

First Half

Introduction to Storm Spotting
Information about NWS La Crosse
The Spotting Process
Sources of weather information
NWS Information / Outlooks
Spotter deployment
Spotting locations
Stages of the thunderstorm (updraft/downdrafts)
Thunderstorm Hazards (Flooding, Lightning, Hail)
Downbursts
Thunderstorm Wind

Second Half

Squall Lines / Shelf Clouds (updated!)
Supercells
Elements of the Supercell
Wall Clouds
Tornado definitions and examples
Funnel clouds
Challenges to spotters
Communication
Spotter reporting procedures/guidelines
Spotter safety
Case examples / review