The first of two SKYWARN storm spotter training sessions in the Fort Wayne area happens Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. at Columbia City High School, 600 N. Whitley St., Columbia City, Ind.

Everyone is welcome. The training will help participants learn how to identify tornadoes and other severe weather phenomena and how to report them to the National Weather Service (NWS) to aid in public safety. You do not need to be ham radio operator. Spotters who are not hams can make reports via telephone or social media. 

Registration is not required but is highly recommended.  Why? If a winter storm requires the NWS to cancel the training, registrants will receive notification via email. If you don’t register, you risk wasting a trip to Columbia City.

To register for the Columbia City session, follow this link.

The National Weather Service requests that all participants complete online storm spotter training before attending a live training session. If you completed the online training last year and are confident that you remember the material, it is not necessary to view the online training again this year.

To view the two modules of the online spotter training course, follow this link.

The NWS will not conduct a spotter training session in Fort Wayne in 2014. If you are unable to attend the Columbia City session, the next session close to Fort Wayne happens Monday, March 17, at 6 p.m. (note the earlier starting time), at Wells County Community Center, 1240 S. 4-H Road, Bluffton, Ind.

To register for the Bluffton session, follow this link.

If you have questions about SKYWARN spotter training, contact Michael Lewis, the warning coordination meteorologist at National Weather Service northern Indiana weather forecast office.