The National Weather Service Wakefield office is hosting a SKYWARN class in May to teach those interested about hazardous weather conditions.
The NWS Wakefield office is partnering with Williamsburg and James City County to offer this course to residents.
The class is free, but registration is required.
The NWS’s Basic SKYWARN class is taught by a meteorologist and educates residents how to spot severe weather. After participants complete the course, they will help the NWS with “vital weather updates” during severe weather, according to the James City County civic alert.
“SKYWARN is a nationwide network of volunteer weather spotters who report hazardous weather to local National Weather Service (NWS) offices,” according to the NWS Wakefield SKYWARN course page. “Amateur radio operators and weather observers, generally operating through local organizations, are ideally equipped to contribute to the SKYWARN program.”
“However, the general public is also an integral part of this program, serving as our ‘eyes on the ground’ during times of severe weather.”
The Basic SKYWARN class is at the James City County Recreation Center, 5301 Longhill Road, on May 4 at 6 p.m.
There is also an online SKYWARN course on March 23, according to the NWS Wakefield website.
For more information or to register, visit the National Weather Service website.
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