Throughout eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, trained and dedicated individuals monitor the skies around their communities during severe weather events. These storm spotters provide first-hand severe weather reports to their local officials, and to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, which are used to make critical warning decisions. Being a storm spotter not only means dedication but also training. Each winter and spring the Tulsa office of the National Weather Service trains members of police & fire departments, emergency management officials, and amateur radio operators on spotting techniques. Typically, the training is coordinated by a local group (such as an emergency management agency) and a NWS meteorologist serves as the guest instructor. The goal of the training is not just to recognize tornadoes, but to have some understanding of storm structure, which in turn better prepares the spotter for extreme and unusual circumstances. Other topics covered include an update on the latest NWS technology and procedures, ideas for organizing/coordinating spotter groups, severe weather reporting, and important safety considerations.
The training is free, and all the classes listed below are open to the public. The sessions not listed as “virtual” are in-person at the specified hosting site, and do not require pre-registration. The virtual training sessions require preregistration. Choose the virtual session that you’d like to attend, click the registration link associated with that date’s session, and complete the information requested to register.
NWS Tulsa Storm Spotter classes are here: WFO Tulsa Spotter Training (weather.gov)
Contact WCM Ed Calianese for any questions.
