Spotter Training Information

Current Severe Weather Information

What makes a thunderstorm Severe?
- Hail 1" or larger, and/or Wind gusts 58 mph or greater, and/or a Tornado
- Hail Size Chart & Wind Speed Estimate
Training:
- Upcoming Spotter Training Sessions
- Online Spotter Training (from COMET)
- Indianapolis Spotter Brochure (PDF)
- Advanced Storm Spotting Guide (PDF)
- Cloud Chart
Additional Programs that Assist Warning Decisions, Forecasting, and Research:
- CoCoRaHS - A network of volunteers measuring precipitation data
- mPING - Precipitation type reports

Hail Size Chart: (diameter in inches)

Wind Speed Estimate:

25-31 mph: Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telephone wires.
32-38 mph: Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt walking against the wind.
39-54 mph: Twigs break off trees; wind generally impedes progress.
55-72 mph: Damage to chimneys and TV antennas; pushes over shallow rooted trees.
73-112 mph: Peels surfaces off roofs; windows broken; light mobile homes pushed or overturned; moving cars pushed off road.
113-157 mph: Roofs torn off houses; cars lifted off ground.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spotter Training Sessions

Do I need to preregister for these sessions? No. All you need to do is arrive at the proper time and location.
About how long do the sessions last? Approximately 2 hours.
Do I have to live / be a spotter in the county that I take the training session? No. The training sessions are identical.

Please visit this news story that lists the upcoming sessions.