No Specialized Experience is Needed - Everyone is Welcome!!
The National Weather Service Office in North Platte, Nebraska, will provide in-person spotter training again this Spring of 2026. Please see the schedule below for our latest spotter training opportunities. All interested spotters are welcome to attend any one of our spotter talks. This training is absolutely open to the public. If you have further questions, please contact the Warning Coordination Meteorologist Shawn Jacobs directly.
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in North Platte, in coordination with county emergency managers, volunteer fire departments and other local community organizations offer storm spotter classes at several locations to prepare for severe weather season. If you would like to assist your local community by becoming a volunteer storm spotter and reporting severe weather to the National Weather Service, or if you simply want to learn more about severe weather, consider attending one of our classes. Classes are approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
Attendees are taught the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, the features to look for, and where to find them. What, when and how to report information as well as basic severe weather safety are also covered.
We will also provide an Advanced Spotter Course this year. You do not need to attend the advanced training to be certified as a storm spotter.
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Photo Courtesy: Les Green
If you have any questions about a class date or location, please call the contact information provided, or visit with your local county emergency manager for scheduling the training. The training is free and may require pre-registration if noted on the date of training. If you have additional questions, email Warning Coordination Meteorologist Shawn Jacobs.
Additional learning opportunities include:
The schedule of classes is listed below. One need only attend a single class of each type, but you must attend a Basic course prior to an Advanced course. If you don't see a town/city near you, please check back as more will be added.
| Town/City | Date and Time | Location | Basic/Advance | Contact Info | Preregistration |
| Callaway, NE |
Feb. 17, 2026 7pm CT |
Callaway Fire Dept. | Both |
Custer County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Anselmo, NE |
Feb. 24, 2026 7pm CT |
Anselmo Fire Dept. | Both |
Custer County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Valentine, NE |
Feb. 24, 2026 6pm CT |
Mid-Plains Community College Valentine Campus |
Both |
Cherry County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Ogallala, NE |
Feb. 25, 2026 6pm MT |
Ogallala Fire Hall | Both |
Keith County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Ansley, NE |
March 3, 2026 7pm CT |
Ansley Fire Dept. | Both |
Custer County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Grant, NE |
March 12, 2026 6pm CT |
Grant Fire Dept. | Both |
Grant Volunteer Fire Department |
No |
| Springview, NE |
March 16, 2026 7:30pm CT |
Springview Fire Hall | Both |
Keya Paha County Emergency Manager |
No |
| North Platte, NE |
March 17, 2026 6:30pm CT |
Mid-Plains Community College North Platte Campus |
Both |
Region 51 Emergency Manager |
No |
| Hayes Center, NE |
March 23, 2026 6:30pm CT |
Hayes Center Fire Hall | Both |
Hayes County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Raven, NE |
March 24, 2026 6:00pm CT |
Raven Fire Hall | Both |
Rock County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Bassett, NE |
March, 25, 2026 6:00pm CT |
Bassett Community Center | Both |
Rock County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Broken Bow, NE |
March 31,2026 7:00pm CT |
Custer County Courthouse | Both |
Custer County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Taylor, NE |
April 2, 2026 7:00 PM CT |
Region 26 Building | Both |
Region 26 Emergency Manager |
No |
| Hayes Center, NE |
April 7, 2026 6:30 PM CT |
Hayes Center Fire Hall | Spanish |
Hayes County Emergency Manager |
No |
| Bartlett, NE |
April 15, 2026 7:00 PM CT |
Bartlett Fire Hall | Both |
Region 26 Emergency Manager |
No |
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