Even though we may still face a bit more snow and chilly air during the next few weeks, our focus weatherwise is now shifting to the spring, and that means the potential for thunderstorms.

Technology has advanced to the point that our radars, satellites, and communications systems are now making the forecasting and actual detection of severe weather increasingly better and more accurate, but a key part of our knowledge of dangerous weather conditions still comes via storm spotters...those people who actually are outside watching and listening for the development and occurrence of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Each spring, the National Weather Service (NWS) conducts Storm Spotter Training classes across the U.S., with the actual locations and times of the sessions determined by the local offices with the forecast and warning jurisdiction for a given area.

If you are interested in becoming a storm spotter, please check the links below for the times and locations of the training.

For residents of Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Lincoln, Langlade, Marathon, Shawano, Menominee, Wood, Portage, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties (as well as the rest of northeast and east-central Wisconsin, the spotter training is conducted by the NWS office in Green Bay. The 2009 schedule of training events for this office can be found at this link:                                       www.crh.noaa.gov/grb/?n=spotterschedule

For residents of Taylor, Clark, Juneau, and Adams Counties (as well as elsewhere in southwestern Wisconsin) the spotter training is administered by the NWS office in La Crosse, with the 2009 training schedule available at this link:              www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/?n=skywarn

For residents of Price County (as well as the rest of northwestern Wisconsinthe spotter training is administered by the NWS office in Duluth, and the 2009 training schedule is available at this link:                                         www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=dlh&storyid=21232&source=0