(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are invited to an online webinar on winter weather tonight (Monday) being hosted by the National Weather Service office in Johnston. Meteorologist Alex Krull says they’re constantly recruiting weather spotters to help be the eyes and ears for forecasters. “We’ll talk about how we forecast different types of winter precipitation and how we officially report that then to the National Weather Service,” Krull says. “That includes how to properly take a snowfall measurement, if you have any ice on trees or power lines, how you can take a picture and officially report that to the National Weather Service and to be able to identify differences between things like snow, sleet and graupel.”

You don’t know what graupel is? Graupel is considered a soft hail or small snow pellets. Spotter training sessions were cancelled earlier this year due to the pandemic and Krull says these webinars are a good alternative for now.  “There are plans to host more online virtual severe weather spotter training sessions come this springtime,” Krull says. “At this time, it doesn’t quite look like we’ll be able to have in-person meetings again, come springtime.”

The webinar is free and runs from 7 to 8 PM. Register to take part here: www.weather.gov/dmx