NWS Wakefield SKYWARNAmateur Radio Support Team
WX4AKQ Wakefield, VA
Spotter Training Information
Spotter Training in the Wakefield CWA is handled by National Weather Service Employees. A number of classes are scheduled each year, mostly in the spring. Classes are two to three hours long and the training is good for three years, at which point Spotters must take current training to re-certify for another three years. Both Basic and Advanced Spotter training is available.
Basic Spotter training is the minimum requirement for SKYWARN Spotters and covers the basics of severe weather identification and reporting. Advanced Spotter training covers more advanced topics such as radars, severe weather climatology, and weather science topics.
Either Basic or Advanced Spotter training may be used for three-year re-certification. Basic training is a pre-requisite for Advanced training.
Click here for the current Spotter class schedule and registration.
Training Guides and Reference Materials
- Basic SKYWARN Spotter Presentation
- Basic Spotter's Field Guide
- Advanced SKYWARN Spotter Presentation
- Sky Watcher's Cloud Chart
- Advanced Spotter's Field Guide
- Snow Measurement Guidelines
Additional Online Training Opportunities
A classroom training session by NWS employees is the preferred training method. In the event that transportation, accessibility, or scheduling issues prevent attendance in a classroom or scheduled online session, the following self-paced online training is an acceptable alternative to Basic Spotter training. Both courses must be completed for credit.
When taking these online courses for initial training or re-certification, be sure to select the option to notify your local NWS office of course completion so that your Spotter training record may be updated.