Throughout the year, especially with severe weather season quickly approaching, the National Weather Service is in need of weather reports that help keep track of the weather across the nation. Whether its with heavy snow, flooding, heat waves, or other weather events, the NWS collects this weather information and uses it in a variety of ways, including making it free and accessible to the public.
And the local NWS office in Baltimore-Washington region is offering classes for people to help with this process by becoming SKYWARM Spotters. According to SKYWARN.org, SKYWARN spotters...
- Provide important ground truth to NWS
- Act as eyes and ears in the field
- Assist NWS in issuing timely, accurate and detailed warnings by confirming hazardous weather detected by NWS radar
- Serve their local community
Those eligible to participate include...
- Anyone with an interest in public service and access to the communications, such ham radio operators
Volunteers include police & fire personnel, dispatchers, EMS workers, public utility workers and other concerned private citizens. To learn more and to sign up for SKYWARN spotter training, follow the link shown here.
