DAVENPORT, Iowa — Update: Due to severe weather in the Quad Cities on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the training in Davenport has been cancelled for the evening. In a Facebook post, NWS officials said the training will be rescheduled for a later date.
Severe weather season is just around the corner and meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities announced the return of in-person Skywarn spotter training classes for the spring of 2024.
Trained Skywarn spotters are a critical component in the field whenever dangerous storms approach. Spotters are trained on what to report to the National Weather Service, along with best safety practices when spotting. Oftentimes, these spotters are the ground truth to what Doppler radar may be showing, relaying important information back to meteorologists at the National Weather Service, which then issues alerts, such as severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings.
These sessions are a great way to either get your feet wet with basic severe thunderstorm and tornado knowledge or brush up on your storm-spotting skills. A lot of pictures and videos are used during the session and oftentimes there is new content to review each year.
Classes are led by meteorologists from our local office here in the Quad Cities and last about two hours. They are free and open to the public. Children age 10 and older will get the most out of the training. Registration is required for the in-person session at the Moline Public Library and all virtual sessions.
In order to be listed as a certified storm spotter, attendance at an in-person session is required.
Below is a list of scheduled in-person training sessions that are being held throughout the Quad Cities region. A sign-in sheet will be provided at each individual session. More classes will likely be added in the next several weeks, so, check back often!
Monday, February 26, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Virtual Skywarn Spotter Training
Click here to register
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Adventure Christian Community - Davenport, IA
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.
3028 W Jackson Street, Macomb, IL
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Monday, March 11, 2024
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Calkins Barn - 104 E Main Street, Wyoming, IA
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ladd Community Building - 303 S Central Ave - Ladd, IL
Monday, March 18, 2024
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Moline Public Library - 3210 41st St - Moline, IL
Registration is required, here.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Virtual Skywarn Spotter Training
Register Here
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.
104 Fire Ridge Dr - Williamsburg, IA
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Monday, March 25, 2024
6:30-8:30 p.m.
3300 Cedar St - Muscatine, IA
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Also, check out Storm Track 8 University, hosted by Meteorologists Morgan Strackbein and Andrew Stutzke to learn even more about everything weather.