Each year NWS Green Bay provides several online storm spotter training opportunities using GoToMeeting Webinars. These live interactive training sessions are conducted by a NWS meteorologist and available to you at no cost via your computer, or by using the GoToMeeting app on your smartphone or tablet.
To sign up for one of our online classes, simply click on "REGISTRATION LINK" of the class you would like to attend.
Notes:
DATE | TIME (CT) | REGISTRATION LINK |
SKYWARN is a program sponsored by the National Weather Service. The program is made up of thousands of volunteers who attend regular training and then scan the skies of their communities identifying and reporting critical storm information. These volunteers, sometimes organized under the SKYWARN banner in the U.S., are typically trained by NWS forecasters to be the eyes and ears of both the warning forecasters and the local public safety networks.
The effects of severe weather are felt every year by many Americans. Real-time storm reports, combined with Doppler radar data, are critical for issuing timely and accurate severe weather warnings. Trained Skywarn spotters will always serve as a critical link between radar indications of severe weather and what’s happening on the ground.
While the main role of a storm spotter is to be their community's first line of defense against dangerous storms, they also provide important information to NWS warning forecasters who make critical warning decisions. Spotters provide the NWS ground-truth information, such as hail size, wind speed, tornado development, and local damage. These reports can directly help the National Weather Service perform our primary mission, to save lives and property.
(Disclaimer: Trained Skywarn Storm Spotters are not employees of the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service always prioritizes safety and will never "deploy" Skywarn spotters.)
There are two options to become a Trained Storm Spotter for NWS Green Bay:
The form below allows people to register as a new spotter, or update their previous registration information for the Skywarn Spotter program with NWS Green Bay. This information will never be shared with anyone and is only used so NWS Green Bay can contact you in severe weather situations, and/or to help NWS Green Bay plot your information/location when you report severe weather.
NOTE: This is only for spotters in the NWS Green Bay forecast area.
Whether you are mobile or spotting from a fixed location, safety is a storm spotter’s number one priority!
The routine act of simply driving a vehicle is probably the most dangerous activity storm spotters engage in. When you take the normal everyday risks associated with driving, and add to that the additional risks storm spotters face, such as driving in bad weather, being distracted by the storm, using the radio or cell phone, etc, it becomes apparent that mobile spotters need to take extra care to be safe.
Here are some suggestions to help you stay safe when spotting from your vehicle:
If you are close enough to a storm to hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Lightning can strike with no warning - the first bolt could be the one that gets you.
Here are some tips to stay safe from lightning while spotting:
Floods kill more people than any other weather hazard. Most people that are killed drown in their vehicles. Remember -- Turn Around, Don't Drown!
Here are some tips to stay safe from flash flooding while spotting:
Mobile spotters should be extra cautious when operating around any thunderstorm, and even more cautious when dealing with a severe storm.
Here are some tips to stay safe from severe weather while spotting:
​What are hazards to storm spotters?
I see a tornado, what should I do?
Additional Links
These handouts are free to download, print and/or distribute as you need. If you have any questions about them, please reach out to our office: nws.greenbay@noaa.gov
Tri-Fold Spotter Brochure-- .pdf format
Measuring Snowfall for NWS Green Bay -- .pdf format
Weather Spotter's Field Guide -- .pdf format
Hail size chart -- .pdf format
Other Online Resources
Skywarn Spotter Training -- Two modules/sections to receive full credit. Registration required. |
NOAA Weather Radio Information
NOAA Weather Radio Information -- NWS Green Bay area
Radar Interpretation
The radar training is not required to become a spotter, but is recommended for advanced spotters or net control operators.
Introduction to the WSR-88D NWS Doppler Radar -- Basic Doppler radar overview
Doppler Weather Radar Fundamentals -- Fundamentals of Doppler weather radar operations & how to interpret common phenomena
Dual Polarization Radar Fundamentals -- Dual-pol radar information
Severe Weather
Severe Weather 101 -- Severe weather basics
EF Tornado Scale -- Enhanced Fujita Scale
For the Winter Weather safety class information- including dates/times & how to register, look on the 'Training Schedule' tab! :)
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the SKYWARN program or severe storm spotting for the Green Bay NWS office.
Is there a cost for the training?
Do I need to register before the training?
Do spotters need special tools or equipment?
Is there a minimum age requirement to become a spotter?
When are spotter training classes held?
How long is a typical training class?
Are classes rescheduled due to bad weather?
Will I get paid for being a spotter?
Will I get an official ID, spotter number, or certificate?
Who organizes local spotter networks?
Who organizes and schedules the spotter training class?
Is an Advanced Spotter Training class available?
How often do I need to come to training?
Can I attend a training class and NOT become a spotter?