Learn about severe weather with NWS storm spotter training

The National Weather Service (NWS) will conduct live, in-person SKYWARN storm spotter training in Fort Wayne Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Academy/Ivy Tech South Campus, 7602 Patriot Crossing (off Lafayette St. south of Tillman Rd.).

The NWS relies heavily on trained, volunteer storm spotters. Ham radio operators have strongly supported the SKYWARN program for decades and recently more and more other volunteers, who are not ham radio operators, have joined in. An important part of supporting the program is to receive NWS training and to keep that knowledge up to date.

I want to be as helpful as possible to the NWS and, thereby my community. That’s why I attend SKYWARN training every year, even though the NWS only expects spotters to attend at least once every three years. I find it helpful to refresh my memory from the previous year and to make sure I’m aware of any new information.

If you’ve never attended the training, and you live in the Fort Wayne area, this is your chance to do so without traveling out of town. If you have attended in previous years, this month’s training will be a good refresher. If you don’t live in the Fort Wayne area, you can find a list of other classes taught by the northern Indiana NWS office here.

If you know anyone who is curious about what storm spotting is, invite them to attend. Remember that while a ham license is helpful to spotters, it’s not at all necessary, especially in these days of smartphones and mobile Internet.

The NWS considers the in-person training to be supplemental to online spotter training available on the MetEd website (https://www.meted.ucar.edu/). It recommends that all spotters complete the online training in addition to the in-person training and ideally, before the in-person session.

Finally, the NWS sincerely requests that all individuals register in advance for in-person training sessions. I have already honored that request, by registering for the Feb. 17 session. You can register online for the Fort Wayne class at http://allen-in-spotter.eventzilla.net/ or you can register by phone by calling the Allen County Office of Homeland Security at 260-449-4663.

Fort Wayne disaster ministry monitoring blizzard for possible response

ACAD logoAssociated Churches Active in Disaster (ACAD, the disaster ministry of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County) is monitoring the situation in the U.S. Northeast, where a major blizzard is underway.

ACAD is in communication with Operation Blessing, a national disaster ministry organization that coordinates the response of disaster volunteers. Operation Blessing positioned an advance team in New Jersey and is prepared to respond with food distribution and snow removal relief efforts. Operation Blessing is not at this time requesting volunteer assistance but could do so in the future, when the impact of the storm and resulting needs of affected communities become known.

ACAD is NOT asking local churches for any kind of assistance at this time, except for prayers for those in the path of the storm. Please do NOT reach out to ACAD or the Associated Churches office with offers of assistance until and unless requested.

ACAD will use social media (such as its Facebook page and Twitter account) and other channels, as appropriate, to keep local churches informed of the situation.

Wind Chill Advisory issued January 09 at 3:56PM EST until January 10 at 1:00PM EST by NWS

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST /NOON CST/ SATURDAY… HAZARDOUS WEATHER… * WIND CHILLS WILL FALL TO BETWEEN 15 BELOW AND 25 BELOW TONIGHT AND CONTINUE IN THAT RANGE THROUGH MIDDAY SATURDAY. * GUSTY WEST WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Special Weather Statement issued January 09 at 2:51PM EST by NWS

…BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW INTO EARLY THIS EVENING… WEST WINDS GUSTING UP TO 30 MPH WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN MAINLY RURAL AREAS THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION AND BE PREPARED FOR LOCALIZED HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Wind Chill Advisory issued January 09 at 10:09AM EST until January 09 at 10:00AM EST by NWS

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST /NOON CST/ SATURDAY… …WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED… THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. HAZARDOUS WEATHER… * WIND CHILLS WILL FALL TO BETWEEN 15 BELOW AND 25 BELOW TODAY
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Wind Chill Advisory issued January 09 at 4:00AM EST until January 10 at 1:00PM EST by NWS

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING… …WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Winter Weather Advisory issued January 09 at 4:00AM EST until January 10 at 1:00PM EST by NWS

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING… …WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Winter Weather Advisory issued January 09 at 12:26AM EST until January 09 at 10:00AM EST by NWS

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST THIS MORNING… HAZARDOUS WEATHER… * WIND CHILLS WILL GENERALLY RANGE BETWEEN 5 BELOW AND 20 BELOW THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. * SNOW WILL CONTINUE EARLY THIS MORNING… THEN TAPER OFF BY
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Winter Weather Advisory issued January 08 at 10:23PM EST until January 09 at 10:00AM EST by NWS

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY… HAZARDOUS WEATHER… * WIND CHILLS WILL GENERALLY RANGE BETWEEN 5 BELOW AND 20 BELOW THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. * SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING
View the full statement on the NWS website.