NWS Shreveport SKYWARN - Become a Spotter


About SKYWARN	Become a Spotter	Training Schedule	Training Certificates	Submit Report	More Resources

How to Become a SKYWARN® Spotter

The National Weather Service encourages anyone with an interest in A picture of a Skywarn storm spotter class in Gilmer, Texas that was taught in 2024. public service and access to communication, such as amateur radio, to participate as a SKYWARN® storm spotter. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers, and other concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes, or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter. In other words, anyone can become a SKYWARN® storm spotter!

There are two ways to becoming a trained SKYWARN® spotter in our area. First, you can attend one of our in-person our virtual classes. You can see our schedule of storm spotter training classes by clicking the Training Schedule tab above. Second, you also complete storm spotter training online.

For information about joining a local spotter network, contact your local Emergency Management office. Your local and county/parish officials can provide additional information about how spotter groups are organized in your communities.

Completing Your SKYWARN® Training Online

We know many people who wish to be help and to be a storm spotter aren't always able to attend one of our in-person classes. COMET is a cooperative program between the National Weather Service and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). Anyone who completes this online course, passes the associated quiz with a score of 70% or better, and watches a video provided by the National Weather Service in Blacksburg will be qualified as a trained SKYWARN spotter.

When you have completed the training, passed the test with a 70% or better, and watched the video, please email our Warning Coordination Meteorologist. Also, in your email, in addition to a small note stating you completed the training and video, please include the following:

Complete the COMET MetEd SKYWARN® Spotter Training Curriculum and pass the quiz with a 70% or better
The courses are “The Role of the Skywarn Spotter” and “Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics”. The courses will require you to register with the MetEd Training Site. Registration is free.
Watch the following the video provided by the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg
The video can be found on YouTube here.
Email our Warning Coordination Meteorologist
In your email, please include:
1. A small note stating that you have completed the training and the video.
2. Your 911 mailing address or your latitude/longitude to the nearest 4th decimal place.
3. Your phone number.
4. Any time restrictions of when you would NOT want to be called by our meteorologists.
5. Whether or not you have any weather equipment and the type of equipment.
6. An attachment of the certificate you earned after completing the online class.

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