The National Weather Service will offer a free two-hour “Severe Weather Storm Spotting” class at LLCC Monday, Feb. 29 starting at 6:30 p.m. Open to the general public, in addition to learning about the formation and tracking of tornadoes, the session will give attendees an opportunity to become official NWS storm spotters. The training program–the only one in Sangamon County in 2016–will be held in the Student Union on the lower level of Menard Hall.

Co-sponsored by the Capital Area Amateur Radio Emergency Response Team (CAARERT) and LLCC, there is no age limit for those who wish to attend. However, attendees must be at least 18 years old to receive storm spotter certification. Pre-registration is not required. Those with special needs should send a request to Chris.Miller@noaa.gov. no later than Friday, Feb. 19 so that LLCC can accommodate the request.

The session will be led by Patrick Bak, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Lincoln. The class will cover the formation and movement of tornadoes and other severe storms. Also included will be a discussion of personal safety considerations when severe weather is threatening.

For individuals who wish to become certified storm spotters, Bak will provide information about the types of data the Weather Service needs to better inform the public about the severity of the storm and what can be expected as it moves along its track. Some of the observations they need reported include hail, estimated wind speed, flash flooding and tornadoes. Tornadoes have occurred in Illinois during every month of the year but the peak period is from April through June.

For more information, visit the NWS Lincoln Office “Severe Weather Spotter Training” web page at: http://www.weather.gov/Lincoln/spotter.