博体育

We offer sets of online basic spotter courses and one advanced spotter course each spring and fall, usually February into March and again in October, leading into our regional climatological increases in severe weather. These online courses are FREE and allow individuals to complete the course(s) in the comfort of their home or office using GoToWebinar. By attending any course, which runs about 2 hours, an individual or group of individuals will become a SKYWARN storm spotter.

Unless you'd like to or are in need of a refresher, which we recommend, you do not have to attend more than one basic course as the material covered is the same; however, we require you to attend at least one basic course before taking the advanced course. These courses are two-way, meaning you will be able to interact with the 博体育 meteorologist leading the training. You will be muted while training is in progress, but you may use the built-in feature to ask questions.

Note: A spotter class may be cancelled or rescheduled if affected by active weather.

How to Attend an Online Storm Spotter Class

To avoid being hurried, give yourself at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the class to complete the following:

1. Via the schedule below, register by clicking the link corresponding to the class you'd like to attend.
2. Select the "join webinar" button on the registration page or in your confirmation email and follow the prompts.
3. Enjoy the class and feel free to ask questions!
    

We have concluded storm spotter classes for the spring 2025 season. Check back in early September for our next lineup of classes that will run from late September through October.

Send questions, comments, or inquires to gerald.satterwhite@noaa.gov
 

SKYWARN is the 博体育 (博体育) program of trained volunteer weather spotters. Storm spotters come from many walks of life, including fire fighters, law enforcement, amateur radio operators, and the public. SKYWARN storm spotters provide important ground truth information to 博体育 warning forecasters who make critical warning decisions during severe weather, and help the 博体育 perform its primary mission to save lives and property.

Note: This is not storm chaser training. A storm spotter is a volunteer service that is conducted primarily from fixed locations such as from home, work, or around your community. The 博体育 does not endorse or encourage the use of storm spotter training for storm chasing.

SKYWARN name and logo are trademarked: SKYWARN® is a registered trademark of NOAA's 博体育. Please read the rules for the usage of the SKYWARN® name and logo.

Visuals and Descriptions

-博体育 Weather Spotter's Field Guide

-博体育 JetStream - An Online School for Weather

-Sky Watcher Chart

-Basic Storm Spotter Presentation from February 6, 2023

-Advanced Storm Spotter Presentation from October 25, 2023

Amateur Radio Clubs

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Modules

Note: These modules do not replace storm spotter training provided by 博体育 Birmingham but rather are a supplementary source. If you complete these modules, you are still encouraged to attend one of the online classes. We do not provide 博体育 storm spotter certificates for completing the MetEd modules below. Additionally, 博体育 Birmingham does not provide Spotter ID numbers.

If you are within 博体育 Birmingham's 39 county coverage area (shown below) and when you can do so safely, send us a report. Include photos if you are able to. Remember, be concise and accurate with your report -- who, what, when, and where. Please do not relay reports based on what you are seeing/hearing on television or on your app.

-Send a report via 博体育 web page

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-Tag us in a post on X or send a direct message

      Include #alwx on your social media report and include a photo if possible

-Call us at 205-664-3010, option 2

Hail (any size):
Measure the largest hail stone or compare it to a common item.  

• 0.25" or less - pea
• 0.50" - mothball
• 0.75" - dime/penny
• 0.88" - nickel
• 1.00" - quarter (severe threshold)
• 1.25" - half dollar
• 1.50" - walnut/ping pong ball
• 1.75" - golf ball
• 2.00" - hen egg
• 2.50" - tennis ball
• 2.75" - baseball
• 3.00" - tea cup
• 4.00" - grapefruit
• 4.50" - softball

Strong or damaging winds
What was damaged and to what extent?

• Healthy trees snapped or uprooted
• Large tree branches blown down
• Power poles downed
• Structures damaged (businesses, homes, outbuildings, etc.)

Rotating wall cloud, funnel cloud, or tornado
Be sure to confirm rotation and include the direction and distance of these features from your location.

Flooding:
Focus on water 6" or more in depth that is rapidly flowing or standing water that is 3' or more deep. Is the flood water threatening life or property? Are waterways/streams and creeks rapidly rising?

Severe Thunderstorm criteria (any combination of the following):

• Winds of 58+ mph
• Hail of 1" in diameter or larger
• A tornado