COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sign-Up Information for Skywarn Training can be found here.
The National Weather Service in Columbia is seeking anyone from the Midlands that would be interested in helping out during severe weather.
During inclement weather here in the Midlands storm reports give us an idea what is going on outside. If you are interested in weather and want to give us a helping hand the National Weather Service in Columbia is hosting training sessions to become a Skywarn Spotter.
“So our radar and satellite can provide us with valuable information on the weather but what we want is the actual observation that is happening at the surface and that is what our trained spotters can provide us with.”
Chris Landolfi a meteorologist with the National Weather Service says that, the Skywarn Program allows for a unique opportunity for the public to interact with the weather service. To become a spotter, you have to go to a training that the weather service will be holding.
“The trainings we will be providing, are essentially basic classes, and by basic that means you don’t need to have any prior weather knowledge.”
The 2 hour sessions will cover basics like, storm structure, observation techniques, and how to report any weather to the weather service.
Billy Tholborn is a Skywarn Spotter and WLTX Weather watcher that has been providing weather observations for years. He says he got into spotting for one reason:
“It’s my passion, it’s my obsession, I’m a weather geek. I love it, and it is an honor to be involved with them.”
Along with being a spotter, Billy has his own weather station in Graniteville, that he uses to report to the National weather service daily.
Heading into the colder months ahead he is looking forward to using more of the spotter skills he has gained over the years.
“I’m dying for a good, cold winter, no offense, no ice but a little bit of snowfall so I can hone in my skills on observing and reporting.”