SkywarnSpotter

Spotter Training

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2022 Virtual Storm Spotter Training Schedule

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield, Missouri will be offering four Virtual Storm Spotter Training. The virtual training sessions are entirely free and open to new and seasoned spotters alike. Virtual presentations are conducted using GoToWebinar. Virtual training courses have concluded for 2022. Check out our Youtube recording of the NWS Springfield Virtual Storm Spotter Training for Spring 2022.

Date	Time	Registration Link
March 17, 2022	7:00pm - 8:00pm	Completed
March 19, 2022	10:00am - 11:00am	Completed
April 5, 2022	1:00pm - 2:00pm	Completed
April 12, 2022	7:00pm - 8:00pm	Completed

Follow NWS Springfield for any updates to scheduling in the event active weather or other conflicts result in postponement.

Spotter Presentation Details

Multimedia presentation containing information about identifying and reporting severe weather, spotter safety, severe weather climatology in Missouri and Kansas, thunderstorm structure and threats, and more!
Runs 60 to 75 minutes in length, is open to the public, and free of charge. Register using the links above on the schedule.
Instructors are NWS Meteorologists - Questions are encouraged and welcome!

Reporting Basics

WHO are you?
- Public, Law enforcement, Emergency management, etc.
WHAT occurred?
WHEN was it?
WHERE was it?
Use proper terms (Wall cloud, funnel cloud, etc)

DO NOT EXAGGERATE – Lives are at risk!

How confident are you? (Wall, Funnel Cloud, Tornado)

Location should be address/lat-lon/intersection (Can be estimated miles from city)

Follow up, if necessary.

Reporting Information

What to Report?

Tornadoes

Distance & direction from your location
Movement (tornado direction & speed)
Impacts: Damage, injuries, or deaths
Tornado Behavior: Growing larger? Roping out?

Wall Clouds & Funnel Clouds

Wall cloud: Rotating? Persistent?
Funnel Cloud: How far to the ground
Visible rotation with the funnel?
Dust or debris below the funnel?
(if so, you have a tornado!)

Hail

Diameter of the largest hailstone (estimated or measured)
DO NOT report marble-sized hail!! Marbles vary widely in size
Damage to windows, cars, crops, etc.

Hail Size	Inches
Pea	1/4
Dime	1/2
Penny	3/4
Nickel	7/8
Quarter	1
Half Dollar	1 1/4
Ping Pong Ball	1 1/2
Golf Ball	1 3/4
Hen Egg	2
Tennis Ball	2 1/2
Baseball	2 3/4
Softball	4
Grapefruit	4 1/2

Damaging Winds

Wind speed (estimated or measured)
Damage to trees, power lines, and structures
Trees: Diameter of limbs snapped off and health of tree (old or rotten?)

Speed (mph)	Designation	Description
<1	Calm	Smoke rises vertically
1-3	Light air	Smoke drift indicates wind direction
4-7	Light breeze	Weather vane moves, leaves rustle
8-12	Light breeze	Leaves and twigs in constant motion
13-18	Mod breeze	Dust raised, small branches move
19-24	Fresh breeze	Small trees sway
25-31	Strong breeze	Large branches move
32-38	Moderate gale	Whole trees move, walking affected
39-46	Fresh gale	Twigs break off trees, walking difficult
47-54	Strong gale	Minor structural damage
55-63	Whole gale	Large tree branches break
64-74	Storm	Widespread damage

Flash Flooding & Heavy Rain

Flood Impacts: Roads, houses, etc.
Depth of the water (estimated--use references such as cars or buildings)
Is the water moving swiftly or slowly?
Damage: Roads washed out, etc.
Rainfall amounts & how quickly it fell

Snow & Ice

Amount: (measured or estimated) Take multiple measurements and average them if possible.
Damage or impacts such as downed power lines, snapped tree limbs, cars off the road, etc.

Spotter Resources

NWS Springfield Spotter Reference Sheet (.pdf)
Spotter's Field Guide (.pdf)
Spotter Do's and Dont's (.pdf)
Skywarn Spotter Training - This course was developed by COMET, a program that supports, enhances, and stimulates learning about atmospheric and related sciences. It was not developed by the National Weather Service office in Springfield. The online course does NOT replace the need to attend a National Weather Service spotter training class.

Missouri and Kansas Spotter Networks