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 Skywarn storm spotter training dates for Colorado for the 2015 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 on Sunday, February 16. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.
Schedule updated 3/8/15:
| March, 2015 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 10 | Denver, CO(Denver County) | 7:00pm MDT | Denver Police District #3 1625 South University Blvd Denver, CO |
| Contact Information: DenverCERT@Denvergov.org | |||
| 16 | Holyoke, CO(Phillips County) | 1:00pm MDT | Phillips County Events Center 22505 US Highway 385, Holyoke, CO 80734 |
| Contact Information: Bob.Heldenbrand@phillipscounty.co | |||
| 16 | Holyoke , CO(Phillips County) | 6:30pm MDT | Phillips County Events Center 22505 US Highway 385, Holyoke, CO 80734 |
| Contact Information: Bob.Heldenbrand@phillipscounty.co | |||
| 17 | Haxtun, CO(Phillips County) | 6:30pm MDT | Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept 101 North Colorado Haxtun, CO 80731 |
| Contact Information: Bob.Heldenbrand@phillipscounty.co | |||
| 19 | Highlands Ranch, CO(Douglas County) | 7:00pm MDT | annual Douglas County ARES spotter training Douglas County Sheriff Substation 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 |
| Contact Information: W0RDR@live.com | |||
| 26 | Frederick, CO(Weld County) | 6:00pm MDT | 8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick, CO 80504 |
| Contact Information: sstair@fffd.us | |||
| 26 | Parker, CO | 6:30pm MDT | Rattlesnake Fire Department 46220 Coal Creek Drive, Parker, CO 80138 |
| Contact Information: brandon.lenderink@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 28 | Fort Collins, CO(Larimer County) | 8:00am MDT | note: annual ARES spotter training…Fort Collins Police Community Room 2221 South Timberline Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 |
| Contact Information: w0mbh@hotmail.com | |||
| 30 | Akron, CO(Washington County) | 6:30pm MDT | Washington County Event Center, 551 West 2nd, Akron, CO 80720. |
| Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us | |||
| 31 | Greeley, CO(Weld County) | 6:30pm MDT | (Weld County Administration building 1150 “O” Street Greeley, CO 80632 |
| Contact Information: gmarquez@co.weld.co.us | |||
| April, 2015 – Upcoming | |||
| Day | City, State | Time | Location |
| 02 | Hugo, CO(Lincoln County) | 2:00pm MDT | 103 3rd Avenue Hugo, CO 80821 United States |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 02 | Hugo, CO(Lincoln County) | 6:30pm MDT | Lincoln County Courthouse 103 3rd Avenue Hugo, CO 80821 |
| Contact Information: lclanduse@lincolncountyco.us | |||
| 06 | loveland, CO(Larimer County) | 9:00am MDT | Police Institute Room – 810 E. 10th street Loveland, CO |
| Contact Information: Pat.Mialy@cityofloveland.org | |||
| 06 | Fort Collins, CO(Larimer County) | 7:00pm MDT | Fort Collins Police Community Room 2221 South Timberline Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 |
| Contact Information: migavin@poudre-fire.org | |||
| 07 | Fort Morgan, CO(Morgan County) | 6:30pm MDT | ***NOTE*** date change American Legion Building, 16913 Morgan County Road 17.10 (Nelson Road) Fort Morgan Co. |
| Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us | |||
| 09 | Aurora, CO(Arapahoe County) | 6:30pm MDT | Cherry Creek Schools Education Support Facility, 5416 South Rivera Way, Centennial, CO |
| Contact Information: training@arapahoeares.org | |||
| 11 | Longmont, CO(Boulder County) | 10:00am MDT | LifeBridge Christian Church 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont, CO |
| Contact Information: http://www.longmontcolorado.gov/departments/depar | |||
| 13 | Sterling, CO(Logan County) | 6:30pm MDT | Sterling Public Library community room, 420 North 5th St. in Sterling. |
| Contact Information: donaldson@logancountyco.gov | |||
| 20 | Aurora, CO(Aurora County) | 6:00pm MDT | Aurora Central Library 14949 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80012. |
| Contact Information: acox@auroragov.org | |||
| 21 | Kiowa, CO(Elbert County) | 6:30pm MDT | Kiowa County Building 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa, CO 80117. |
| Contact Information: brandon.lenderink@elbertcounty-co.gov | |||
| 23 | Westminister, CO(Adams County) | 3:30pm MDT | 3645 West 112th Avenue Westminster, CO 80031 room TBA |
| Contact Information: rachel.humphrey@frontrange.edu | |||
| 23 | Westminister, CO(Adams County) | 7:00pm MDT | 3645 West 112th Avenue Westminster, CO 80031 room TBA |
| Contact Information: rachel.humphrey@frontrange.edu | |||
| 25 | Commerce City, CO(Adams County) | 10:00am MDT | 4201 east 72nd, Commerce City. |
| Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com | |||
| 28 | Parker , CO(Parker County) | 6:30pm MDT | Parker Police Station 18600 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy Parker, CO 80134 |
| Contact Information: gjones@parkeronline.org | |||
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