NWS La Crosse Skywarn Schedule

2020 Spotter Training

Storm spotter training dates for 2020 are being added. Training will be held in March and April, and will include at least a couple webinars.

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: 2/10/20

Date	Time	County	City	Location
March 3	6:30 p.m.	Houston	Caledonia, MN	EOC-Lower Level Houston County Justice Center 306 S.Marshall St.
March 4	6:30 p.m.	Trempealeau	Whitehall, WI	Fire Station
March 9	6:30 p.m.	Olmsted	Rochester, MN	Rochester Int'l Event Center
March 12	7:00 p.m.	Clayton	Monona, IA	Fire Station
March 16	6:30 p.m.	Mower	Austin, MN	Crane Community Chapel 1111 9th St. NE
March 18	6:30 p.m.	Howard	To be determined	To be determined
March 23	6:30 p.m.	Grant	Lancaster, WI	High School Auditorium
March 25	6:30 p.m.	Fayette	Elgin, IA	Fire Station
March 26	6:30 p.m.	Winona	Town of Wilson	Wilson Townhall 29660 County Road 12
March 30	6:30 p.m.	Allamakee	Postville, IA	Fire Station
March 31	6:30 p.m.	Buffalo	Mondovi, WI	Roger Marten Center 120 S.Franklin
April 1	6:30 p.m.	Crawford	To be determined	To be determined
April 2	6:30 p.m.	La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	Marycrest Auditorium Mayo Clinic Health System 700 West Ave
April 6	6:30 p.m.	Richland	Richland Center, WI	Coppertop Theater UW Platteville Richland
April 8	6:30 p.m.	Floyd	Charles City, IA	Youth Enrichment Center Floyd Co. Fairgrounds 2516 Seven Mile Rd.
April 13	6:30 p.m.	Juneau	Mauston, WI	Mauston Public Works Bldg 1240 North Road
April 15	6:30 p.m.	Monroe	Fort McCoy, WI	Whitetail Ridge Ski Chalet 8061 West F Street
April 20	6:30 p.m.	Clark	Loyal, WI	Fire Station

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