SkyWarn classes set Saturday, Monday

By Kathy Thomson

The National Weather Service (NWS), with the help of local organizations, conducts SkyWarn classes each spring all over the nation, including two scheduled in area towns over the next few days.

This Saturday, Feb. 29, a SkyWarn class will meet in Hart Auditorium in the Onstead-Packer building at Abilene Christian University from 9:00-11:30 a.m. 

A SkyWarn class will also be offered on Monday, March 2, in Breckenridge.

The course in Stephens County will be held at Texas State Technical College from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on March 2, and will be conducted by representatives of the Fort Worth branch of the National Weather Service.

SkyWarn classes are open to the public and focus on storm type recognition and safety.

SkyWarn training sessions are free and no registration is required.

“The NWS works closely with their partners in amateur radio, fire, law enforcement and those interested from the general public to confirm and report tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, flash floods and winter weather,” said NWS warning and coordination meteorologist Hector Guerrero. “In Texas, severe thunderstorms can strike just about any month of the year.  They are more frequent between March and June in West Central Texas.”

Guerrero explained that even with all the technological advances in severe storm detection, actual sighting and human input is still an important factor in the overall weather warning system.

First hand reports are combined with NWS data, such as information from Doppler radar, to inform communities through radio and television of the proper actions to take when severe weather threatens.

Those with questions can contact Shackelford County emergency management coordinator and sheriff Ed Miller at 325-762-2000 or call the NWS at 325-944-9445.

The NWS now also offers the training online at https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23.