Can you tell the difference between a “scud” cloud, and a “wall” cloud? Do you know the difference between a “funnel cloud,” and a Tornado? Trained storm spotters know the difference, and serve as the local eyes for the National Weather Service when severe weather threatens. Each year, meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) travel to most of the 51 counties they serve to provide a comprehensive multi-media spotter training presentation. The classes are hosted by local emergency management officials, fire departments and a few amateur radio clubs. There are several opportunities for you to attend one of these classes free of charge. The classes typically last one-to two-hours.

The courses cover information about severe weather climatology, severe thunderstorm types, different weather threats and how to identify them, how to report severe weather, spotter safety and severe weather communications. If a class is not offered in your county, you are welcome to attend a class in a nearby county.

In the KJAN listening area, classes are being offered in March at the following locations and times….

March 8th     at the Prescott Fire Station in Adams County, beginning at 7-p.m.

March 14th   at the Lewis Fire Station in Cass County, starting at 7-p.m.

March 15th  at Southwestern Community College in Creston Room 180, at 7-p.m. (Union County)

March 21st  at the Mt. Ayr Courthouse Assembly Room, at 7-p.m. (Ringgold County)

March 26th at the Carroll Fire Station, beginning at 6:30-p.m. (Carroll County)

March 27th at the Farmers and Merchants State Bank in Winterset, at 7-p.m. (Madision County)

And, in April….

on the 4th, at the Audubon Courthouse, beginning at 6:30-p.m. (Audubon County), and on the 18th, at the Menlo Community Center in Menlo (Guthrie County), beginning at 7-p.m.

For other locations, dates and times, check out http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dmx/?n=spotterinfo

338 PM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

…VERY STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY…

A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. AS THE STORM TRACKS THROUGH THE REGION WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS 45 TO 55 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP NEAR SUNRISE OVER WESTERN IOWA AND INCREASE OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION BY LATE MORNING.

A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FAR WEST & SOUTHWEST COUNTIES IN OUR LISTENING AREA (MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE) FROM 7-A.M. WEDNESDAY UNTIL 4-P.M., AND FROM 6-AM UNTIL 6-P.M FOR CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES.

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP BY 6 AM WEST OF HIGHWAY 71 BY SUNRISE AND INCREASE TO NEAR INTERSTATE 35 BY 9 AM CST. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. A CORRIDOR BETWEEN HIGHWAY 30 AND HIGHWAY 34 IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST WINDS WITH GUSTS TO OVER 50 MPH AT TIMES.

* WINDS…WINDS WILL REACH 30 TO 35 MPH FOR MUCH OF THE DAY WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 45 AND 55 MPH BY LATE MORNING THROUGH MID AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS…LOOSE OBJECTS WILL BE BLOWN AROUND. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON NORTH SOUTH ROADS AND INTERSTATES. SNOW DEVELOPING OVER FAR NORTHERN IOWA BY MID MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WILL RESULT IN A PERIOD OF LOWER VISIBILITY AND POSSIBLY DIFFICULT TRAVEL FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES OR TREE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR IF STRONGER WINDS DEVELOP OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH WIND GUSTS TO OVER 45 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE MAY ALSO OCCUR DUE TO UNSECURED OBJECTS BLOWING AROUND.