NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN TRAINING

Portsmouth, Rhode Island – July 31, 2013

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Taunton Massachusetts will be sponsoring a severe weather spotter training session, part of its SKYWARN program, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

The class is being hosted by the Newport County Radio Club and the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties. The class will be on Wednesday July 31, 2013 from 700 PM to approximately 1000 PM. It will be held at the Visiting Nurses Services Building, 1184 East Main Road in Portsmouth Rhode Island.

The session is open to the public at no charge. Amateur Radio Operators, Emergency managers, police, fire, and other first responders are encouraged to attend. Everyone age 16 and older who stays to complete the training will be able to become trained NWS weather spotters. The training session includes a two-hour thirty-minute computer-based presentation, which discusses the development of thunderstorms, the criteria for “severe” thunderstorms, as well as the cloud features associated with severe thunderstorms and tornados. Additional information will be presented about winter storms and proper snow measurement and reporting of coastal flooding, river, stream, and urban flooding and rainfall measurements. The session will also present the procedure for reporting weather information to the National Weather Service. Safety procedures for the various forms of summer severe weather (severe thunderstorms, tornado and lightning), winter storms, and flooding will also be covered in the training session. Anyone attending should bring a pen or pencil and bringing a notebook is optional.

Preregistration is required so a count on supplies can be made. Please contact Rob Macedo-KD1CY at rmacedo@rcn.com for further information and preregistration.