National Weather Service adds storm spotter training in the north Denver area

On June 3, 1981 a tornado struck Thornton in what is the worst twister to have struck the Denver metro area. Are you ready should disaster strike again? Image courtesy the City of Thornton archives.

Last month the National Weather Service announced the first batch of storm spotter training sessions for the spring but notably missing was any in the north metro area.  That has now been rectified as two sessions at Front Range Community College were added for next week.

Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado – from blizzards to tornadoes we can and do see it all.  Each year the weather is responsible for claiming lives in our state and across the nation and the threat is very real.  Storm spotter training allows you to learn how to protect yourself and your family while providing a public service.

Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family.  Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.

The National Weather Service Denver / Boulder office has announced a series of storm spotter training dates for Colorado for the 2011 season.

The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters.  These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes.  Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.

Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter.  When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.

These are great sessions for anyone wanting to learn more about the severe weather we experience in Colorado, whether you want to be an official spotter or not.  All training is free.  Topics include:

  • Basics of thunderstorm development
  • Fundamentals of storm structure
  • Identifying potential severe weather features
  • Information to report
  • How to report information
  • Basic severe weather safety

To learn more about the program, see here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/awebphp/spotter.php

Below are the dates, times and locations announced thus far with the first occurring today.  At the current time only one is in the north metro area but more may be added. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.

March, 2011 – Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
14 Castle Rock, CO
(Douglas County)
6:30pm MDT Black Feather Condominium Club House 403 Black Feather Loop Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104
Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com
15 Westminster, CO
(Adams County)
3:30pm MDT Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
15 Centennial, CO
(Arapahoe County)
6:30pm MDT Arapahoe County Sheriff Dept. 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO
Contact Information: CStelter@co.arapahoe.co.us
15 Westminster, CO
(Adms County)
7:00pm MDT Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
21 Sedgwick, CO
(Sedgwick County)
6:30pm MDT Sedgwick Fire Department on US 138 on east side of town
Contact Information: sedgwickoem@yahoo.com
22 Holyoke, CO
(Phillips County)
1:00pm MDT Phillips County Fairgrounds Event Center Holyoke, CO
Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop
22 Haxtun, CO
(Phillips County)
6:30pm MDT Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept.
Contact Information: Robert.glancy@noaa.gov
29 Akron, CO
(Washington County)
6:30pm MDT Washington County Events Center, Washington County Fairgrounds
Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us
31 Greeley, CO
(Weld County)
6:30pm MDT Weld County Training center, 1104 H Street Greeley, co
Contact Information: Rrudisill@co.weld.co.us
April, 2011 – Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
04 Sterling, CO
(Logan County)
6:30pm MDT Sterling Public Library 425 North 5th Street Sterling, CO
Contact Information: OWENS@sterlingcolo.com
05 Fort Morgan, CO
(Morgan County)
6:30pm MDT note location change to: American Legion Hall 121 Nelson Road Fort Morgan, CO
Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us
08 Denver, CO
(Denver County)
6:30pm MDT Metropolitan state college of denver Tivoli Union, Room 440
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
09 Kiowa, CO
(Elbert County)
9:00am MDT Elbert County Public Health 75 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO
Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov
12 Parker, CO
(Douglas County)
7:00pm MDT South Metro Fire Parkglenn HQ 10235 Parkglenn Way Room A & B Parker, CO
Contact Information: p.lundquist@comcast.net
16 Commerce City, CO
(Adams County)
10:00am MDT Adams County OEM 4201 East 72nd Ave (2nd floor) Commerce City, CO 80022
Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com
20 Brush, CO
(Morgan County)
6:30pm MDT Brush Fire Department 1220 West Edison Brush, CO
Contact Information: zach.evelyn@brushfd.com
26 Elizabeth, CO
(Elbert County)
6:30pm MDT Elizabeth Library 651 West Beverly Elizabeth, CO 80117
Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov
30 Fort Collins, CO
(Larimer County)
9:00am MDT Fort Collins Police Community Room at 2221 South Timberline Road, Fort Collins
Contact Information: n7dq@comcast.net

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