County Emergency Management to host weather spotter classes in April

NOAA photo /public domain

NOAA photo /public domain

Kenosha County Emergency Management will be sponsoring free, basic and advanced Severe Weather/Tornado Spotter’s classes.

Basic will be Tuesday, April 7, and Advanced will be Tuesday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at the Boys & Girls Club, 1330 52nd St., Kenosha.  Though the class is free, people need to register with Kenosha County Emergency Management at 262-605-7900 with your name, phone number (in case of cancellation) and how many people will be attending, so as to assure enough seating and potential handouts.

“The public is highly encouraged to attend to learn more about severe weather, how it is formed and how it affects them.  Law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works and amateur radio operators are especially encouraged to attend,” said Lt. Gil Benn, Director of Kenosha County Emergency Management.

Trained Weather Spotters are the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service.  Weather Spotters provide critical information during severe weather, to the County and the national Weather Service.  These classes will inform citizens what they need to know to identify potential hazardous weather.  Whether people want to be a trained Weather spotter or just become more knowledgeable about severe weather and tornadoes, this class is extremely informative.

The basic and advanced courses will cover basic meteorology, including how tornadoes are formed, tornado spotting tips and reporting procedures, types of thunderstorms, thunderstorm development, wall clouds/scary looking clouds, tornado classifications/variations and a tornado’s life-cycle.

April 13 through 17 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week with a mock tornado drill on Thursday, April 16 at 1 p.m.  A mock tornado watch will be issued statewide by the NWS followed by the NWS issuing a statewide mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m.  The Awareness Week and drill will offer opportunities for schools, businesses and families to discuss and practice for severe weather activities.  It’s important that everyone regardless of where they are at when severe weather strikes, know what to do and where to go.

Each year, individuals are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes or other types of severe weather, despite advance warning.  Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually.    Severe weather knows no boundaries and affects every individual.  Be prepared for you and your family before the storm.

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