NWS La Crosse Skywarn Schedule

2018 Spotter Training

Storm spotter training for the 2018 season has been completed.

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: 4/24/18

Date	Time	County	City	Location / Attendance
March 6	6:30 p.m.	Floyd	Charles City, IA	50 people
March 8	6:30 p.m.	Clayton	Volga, IA	70 people
March 13	6:30 p.m.	Houston	Hokah, MN	26 people
March 14	10:00 a.m.	All Counties	NWS La Crosse Service Area	( Webinar )
March 15	7:00 p.m.	Winona	Winona, MN	48 people
March 19	6:30 p.m.	Olmsted	Rochester, MN	158 people
March 20	6:30 p.m.	Allamakee	Waukon, IA	52 people
March 26	7:00 p.m.	Fayette	Fayette, IA	70 people
March 27	6:30 p.m.	Howard	Cresco, IA	33 people
March 29	6:30 p.m.	Crawford	Seneca, WI	37 people
April 2	6:30 p.m.	Grant	Lancaster, WI	152 people
April 3	- - -	La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	Class Cancelled Due to Winter Storm Rescheduled for April 23rd
April 6	1:00 p.m.	All Counties	NWS La Crosse Service Area	( Webinar )
April 9	6:30 p.m.	Juneau	Mauston, WI	18 people
April 10	6:30 p.m.	Richland	Richland Center, WI	38 people
April 11	6:30 p.m.	Clark	Thorp, WI	52 people
April 16	6:30 p.m.	Trempealeau	Whitehall, WI	50 people
April 16	7:00 p.m.	All Counties	NWS La Crosse Service Area	( Webinar)
April 18	6:30 p.m.	Monroe	Sparta/Angelo, WI	12 people
April 19	6:30 p.m.	Mower	Austin, MN	86 people
April 23	6:30 p.m.	La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	65 people

Surrounding NWS Forecast Office Spotter Schedules:

Outline of the 2018 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