The effects of severe weather are felt every year by all Americans and certainly those of us in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties of West Virginia. To obtain critical weather information, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN with partner organizations. SKYWARN is a volunteer program with nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.
NWS encourages anyone with an interest in public service and access to communication, such HAM radio and Facebook, to join the SKYWARN program. Volunteers include police and fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and concerned private citizens. Individuals affiliated with hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes or who have a responsibility for protecting others are also encouraged to become a spotter.
The next Greenbrier-Monroe County SKYWARN Class will be held at the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department, 722 Ronceverte Avenue, on Tuesday, Apr. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Register by calling 304-645-5444.
Training covers:
• Basics of thunderstorm development
• Fundamentals of storm structure
• Identifying potential severe weather features
• Information to report
• How to report information
• Basic severe weather safety
Classes are free and typically are about two hours long. Come join us for a fun, informative class where you can learn more about weather and learn how to provide valuable information on your local conditions directly to the National Weather Service. To register, call GCHSEM at 304-645-5444.