ST. LOUIS – Temperatures have been feeling like spring and it may sound like spring with chances for thunderstorms Friday evening. It serves as a reminder that the turbulence that can come along with it is just around the corner.
The National Weather Service is looking for the public’s help by providing ‘ground truth’ during hazardous weather.
Matt Beitscher, Lead Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, says their most powerful tool is their radar, which scans the sky.
While the radar is alert to all kinds of weather in the atmosphere, it can’t see below a certain level. In areas farther away from the radar, it sometimes can’t see below 10,000 feet, which is where a lot of weather occurs.
Beitscher said that storm spotters are vital to the entire weather community when it comes to hazardous weather, adding a level of validity to our more impactful warnings.
“We have folks communicating those hazards but we need folks on the ground to tell us exactly what’s going on so we can give the most accurate information to the rest of the community,” he said. “Trained spotter classes are for anybody, regardless of age, regardless of education and background, regardless of where you’re from.
They’re completely free. You attend the class. It’s really fun, really interactive. There’s a lot to do for kids, for adults (and) for all ages. And at the end of that, we’ll give you some information on how to report the hazardous weather back to us.”
There is one virtual class in April and several more in-person courses across the region, including one in the St. Louis area. For a list of classes, click here.
