As severe weather awareness week kicks off, it’s a reminder that this time of year often brings an increase in severe weather for the region. While professionals are relied upon to alert the public about severe weather, individuals can also play a crucial role by becoming weather spotters.
Anyone who may be interested in weather but don’t want to become a meteorologist can become a Skywarn spotter by taking just one class.
“We are the ones watching the radar and issuing the warnings," said Trent Frey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS). “So anytime you get an alert on your phone that says a warning or a watch has been issued, that’s coming from our office up in White Lake.”
These alerts are supported by Skywarn spotters, who, after completing the class, help fill in the gaps by reporting ground-level conditions that radar and satellite data can’t capture.
Joey Wirt, a Skywarn spotter, takes the 90-minute class annually to stay updated. “We kind of become the last resort if everything goes wrong, but even then, it’s still instant communication that doesn’t require a cell phone,” he said. Wirt emphasized the importance of confirming radar observations with real-time reports from the ground.
Four years ago, a Skywarn spotter was instrumental in helping the NWS identify the Port Austin tornado in Huron County. “We were watching the storm as it moved across Saginaw Bay, and a spotter on the northwestern Thumb called us, reporting funnel clouds and a waterspout. That gave us the confidence we needed to issue the tornado warning,” Frey recalls.
The NWS conducts about a dozen local classes each year to train these spotters, including two virtual options, underscoring the critical need for spotters in their mission to protect lives and property. “We don’t know for sure unless someone gives us a call or sends us a picture and says there’s a tornado on the ground or this storm is producing quarter-sized hail. We need the confirmation on the ground to inform us of what the storm is actually producing,” Frey adds.
For those interested in further involvement, obtaining an amateur radio license can enhance communication capabilities during weather events.
To report to the NWS, you must be at least 13 years old, though younger individuals can still take the class. Classes are available throughout Metro Detroit to ensure training is accessible in every county covered. For a full list of upcoming classes, visit here.
