Weather Awareness Training | Video

Henry Blakes | 4/13/2012

Severe weather is forecast for the Central Plains this weekend and tornadoes are expected to touch down. North Dakota also deals with its fair share of severe weather. While we`re not expecting severe weather anytime soon, emergency managers are hoping people will help spot it.

There have been significant severe weather outbreaks across the country recently and more could be on the way. Skywarn training is a free opportunity for you to learn what to expect when severe weather arrives.

"The primary focus is to educate people on the weather. There are a lot of events where people think it`s a tornado, but it might be a different phenomenon," said Mary Senger with Burleigh County Emergency Management.

Volunteer weather spotters are needed throughout North Dakota to help protect people`s lives and property. The training teaches you how to identify severe weather and how to become an official storm spotter.

Radars do not detect everything that happens during severe weather, so this is where your help is needed. To this day, technology still does not beat a good old pair of eyes and ears.

"Here in North Dakota, we`re looking at our peak severe weather months in June and July. So we`re giving folks plenty of time to increase the awareness," said Rich Kinney with the National Weather Service.

The more spotters watching the sky, the better.

"We will get you into our storm spotter database, so we can contact you during severe weather," Kinney said.

Severe Weather Awareness Week in North Dakota begins on April 30, so now is as good of a time as any to get prepared.

The National Weather Service, along with Burleigh County Emergency Management, will hold the SkyWarn training session on Tuesday, April 17, at the University of Mary campus in the Gary Tharaldson School of Business Auditorium.

You can find a list of all upcoming sessions by visiting the Bismarck National Weather Service`s website and clicking on SkyWarn.

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