Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management has invited the National Weather Service to teach a SKYWARN Storm Spotter Convection Class on Thursday, March 10, from 7-10 p.m. The class will be held at the Independent Fire Company located at 200 West 2nd Avenue, Ranson. This class is free and open to the public.

The SKYWARN classes are designed to educate the public on weather threats in this area, as well as strengthen the ties between the National Weather Service and the local community. The more spotters the National Weather Service has out there, the faster vital ground truth information gets to the National Weather Service forecasters who make the decisions to issue lifesaving weather warnings.

New for spring of 2016, training in the Convection class is a good overview of the severe weather threats in this area. It is intended for everyone. Basics I is a prerequisite for this class. The Convection class includes: Radar Basics; Types of Thunderstorms; Ingredients for Severe Thunderstorms; Tornadogenesis; Severe Thunderstorm Hazards; Severe Weather Climatology; and NWS products and tools for Severe Weather.

Attendees must pre-register for the course at www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-storm-spotter-convection-class-tickets-21488630071

Contact Brandon Vallee, public information officer, Jefferson County, WV Homeland Security & Emergency Management at (304) 724-8914 or bvallee@jeffersoncountywv.org with any questions.