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Published Monday, November 09, 2009 in Local
Want to be storm spotter?
The Times-Herald
Do you like to watch the storms roll in? Would you like to know the difference in a thunderstorm cloud, a hail storm cloud and a burgeoning tornado?
The National Weather Service, in collaboration with Coweta County Emergency Management, will be offering a SkyWarn Storm Spotter Class Tuesday night.
The free, two-hour class will be held at South Metro Ministries (formerly Peachtree City Church of God), 3935 East Highway 34 and will be from 7 to 9 p.m.
SkyWarn Spotters work with the National Weather Service to report storms and other weather events they see.
"When you become a spotter, you're helping your local community stay safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service," said Jay Jones, Coweta's emergency management director. "And you can provide information in all types of weather hazards."
The class covers basic information including the different types of severe storms, "how they develop, what they look like, what the different cloud formations look like," Jones said.
"It's not going to make you a meteorologist by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it meant to be," said Jones.
What the class does do is "give you the opportunity to be more informed about what is happening out there in your community or wherever you may be.
"You may be coaching a baseball team or at a football game. And if you see things going on, then you can alert other people and report it," Jones said. That gives the weather service or local emergency agency the quick info they need to sound weather sirens, send out weather radio alerts, or take other action.
"The more eyes and ears we have out there watching and listening and that can report that information to the weather service, the better off we all are," Jones said. By combining information from observers with satellite and radar information, the weather service is "able to issue more timely and accurate" information, Jones said.
Of course, taking the class doesn't obligate you to be a storm spotter.
"Anybody is eligible to go to these classes," Jones said. "If anybody has any interest," they are welcome.
"It benefits everybody," he said.
The class will also cover basic severe weather safety and weather radios.
If you're interested in attending the class, you may RSVP to Jones at jjones@coweta.ga.us or 770-254-2650. It's not essential to reply. Jones is just trying to get a general idea of how many people will attend. "We're going to be prepared for extra people no matter what," Jones said.
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I'm gonna be there. My family gets tired of my weather interest in the weather channel. Now I can put my interest to use. Besides, any education is better than none. Come on neighbors, support this program. We can help each other pull our heads out of the sand.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 3:49 PM
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storm spotter
11/11/2009
Link To This Comment
A great turn out at last night's Basic Storm Spotter class. The weather guy had a nice presentation although the video set up could have been better. Due to the class running late we didn't get to hear much from Jay Jones on emergency preparedness as it relates to the weather; however, there were plenty of handouts for people to take home to act upon as well as some good information on becoming active in ham radio. I'll give the overall presentation an A-minus with a big thank you to all involved.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 12:24 PM