Become a trained storm spotter for FREE

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - 7News is looking for people to help gather weather data and you can help by becoming a trained storm spotter.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo and Burlington hold “SKYWARN” storm spotter classes in the Spring and Fall. The classes are free to take.

The Spring SKYWARN classes cover severe weather, how to report severe weather, the process behind severe weather and how to record severe weather events.

The Fall SKYWARN classes cover winter weather, how to measure snow, how to spot an ice jam and basic cold weather season storm systems.

SKYWARN classes last about an hour and half, but can run longer. Once you complete a Spring class you are trained for severe weather spotting. Once you complete the Fall class you’ll be trained for weather weather spotting. This program does not require daily work or much time to be a spotter.

What is SKYWARN?

“SKYWARN™ is a national effort to save lives during severe weather emergencies with an expanding network of trained weather spotters. The services performed by SKYWARN™ spotters have saved many lives.

The National Weather Service has a number of devices for detecting severe thunderstorms. Included in these are Doppler radar, satellite, and lightning detection networks. However, the most important tool for observing thunderstorms is the trained eye of the storm spotter.

By providing observations, SKYWARN™ spotters assist National Weather Service members in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the severe local warning program.” -NWS Buffalo

Here is a list of upcoming Fall classes by the NWS in Buffalo

Oct. 25th at 7 PM (Online)
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 1st at 7 PM (Online)
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 6th at 6 PM at Indian River High School
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 28th at 7 PM (Online)
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.

Here is a list of upcoming Fall classes by the NWS in Burlington

Oct. 28th at 2 PM (Online)
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 1st at 6 PM (Online)
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 6th at 6 PM at Indian River High School
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.
Nov. 17th at 6 PM at SUNY Potsdam Kellas Hall room 106
- Registration is free and the class is open to the public.

Please check back for future classes, and/or follow Kris Hudson on Facebook. We will also be holding more Skywarn classes in the Fall that will cover winter weather. Once those dates are finalized they will be posted.