March 2-6, 2026 is Severe Weather Awareness Week!

At a National Weather Service (NWS) storm spotter meeting—like the ones the NWS Wichita office runs each spring (“Storm Fury on the Plains”)—people learn how to recognize severe weather and report it safely to meteorologists. These classes are usually about 60–90 minutes long and are free and open to the public. 

Here’s what participants typically learn:

1. How Severe Thunderstorms Form

Meteorologists explain the basics of thunderstorm development, including:

• The ingredients needed for storms (moisture, instability, lift, wind shear)

• How storms grow from ordinary thunderstorms into severe storms

• Why some storms produce tornadoes, large hail, or damaging winds 

This gives spotters enough meteorology to understand what they’re seeing in the sky.

2. Types of Storms

Participants learn how to recognize different storm structures, such as:

• Multicell storms

• Squall lines

• Supercells (including classic, high-precipitation, and low-precipitation types) 

Understanding the type of storm helps identify whether it might become severe.

3. Key Visual Warning Signs

A big part of the class is recognizing dangerous cloud features. Meteorologists show photos and videos of things like:

• Wall clouds

• Funnel clouds and tornadoes

• Shelf clouds and gust fronts

• Rotation in the cloud base

• Large hail and damaging wind signatures 

The training is very visual so people can quickly recognize these features in real life.

4. What to Report to the National Weather Service

Spotters are taught which observations are most valuable, such as:

• Tornadoes or funnel clouds

• Hail size (often using coins for comparison)

• Wind damage or measured wind speeds

• Flash flooding or heavy rain

• Storm damage like downed trees or power lines 

These ground reports help meteorologists confirm radar data and issue warnings.

5. How to Send Reports

Participants learn the ways spotters relay information, including:

• Phone reports to the local NWS office

• Spotter apps or online systems

• Amateur (ham) radio networks used during severe weather 

Accurate reports help forecasters create Local Storm Reports used for warnings and records.

6. Safety for Storm Spotters

The class also stresses personal safety, including:

• Where to observe storms safely

• When to stop spotting and take shelter

• How to avoid lightning, flash flooding, and tornado hazards 

They emphasize that spotters are observers, not storm chasers.

✅ Bottom line:
A storm spotter meeting teaches people how storms work, how to recognize severe weather features, and how to safely report what they see to the National Weather Service so warnings can be issued faster and more accurately.