Remember last year’s “Summer of Storms” that saw a seemingly endless parade of hail, funnel clouds and tornadoes visit the Front Range?  The severe weather threat in Colorado is real and it can turn deadly in an instant. 

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 2010 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. 

• Looking back: A review of Denver’s 2009 “Summer of Storms”

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.  There is one this coming weekend in north Denver, two in Westminster in March and one in Commerce City in April – all are great opportunities for Thornton residents.  Click here to go to the NWS site for the latest.