How To Become A Trained Storm Spotter In Montana

Have you ever found yourself staring up into the sky as a massive storm system rolls in, wondering what in the world is going on?

Being a weather nerd myself, I'm a little biased in saying that, there's nothing more fascinating than watching a storm develop.

The good news is that if you'd like to learn more about severe weather and what to look for, now is your chance.

What Is Skywarn?

The National Weather Service relies heavily on trained volunteers throughout the state to verify what Doppler radar is saying about storms.

I can speak from experience on this one; you don't always get the full story with Doppler radar, and it's incredibly helpful to have eyes on the ground to confirm or deny what's happening.

That's where trained weather spotters come into play.

Skywarn is a volunteer program through the National Weather Service where folks interested in weather take a training class and learn what to look for and how to identify severe weather.

Spotters often relay information to the National Weather Service, such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, or even flash flooding.

The spotter training classes cover topics such as storm development and safety during storms.

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Skywarn Training In Montana

The National Weather Service will host numerous Skywarn training events in the next few weeks.

Some of these classes are virtual, while others are in-person.

Here are the details on the upcoming classes.

Virtual Options
- Monday, April 28th | 6 pm - 8 pm
- Tuesday, May 6th | 6 pm - 8 pm
- Register HERE
In-person Option
- Monday, May 5th | 6 pm - 8 pm
- Lewistown Fire Department - Training Room
- 305 W Watson, Suite 3, Lewistown 59457
- Register HERE

If you are unable to attend a class and would like to view the material at your own pace, check out this Story Map.

If you have a group that would like to take the class together, Click Here to email our Coordinator.

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Gallery Credit: Conor Walsh