(BENTON, Ky.) — The National Weather Service is hosting a free Skywarn Storm Spotter training session next month for residents interested in learning how to identify and report severe weather phenomena.
The Basic Spotter Course will take place Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. CDT at the Marshall County Rescue Squad Building, located at 201 Ash Street in Benton. The session is expected to last approximately 2½ hours.
Participants will learn to recognize different weather phenomena and understand proper reporting procedures for severe weather events. Upon completion, attendees will become official National Weather Service Skywarn Storm Spotters.
“This training provides valuable skills for community members who want to help protect their neighbors during severe weather events,” said Curt Curtner, the local contact from Marshall County EMA. The course will be instructed by Christine Wielgos from the NWS.
Registration is required for the free training. Interested participants can register by scanning the QR code on promotional materials or visiting www.weather.gov/pah/spottertraining.
The Skywarn program is a nationwide network of trained volunteers who provide ground-truth reports to National Weather Service forecasters during severe weather events. These reports help meteorologists issue more accurate and timely warnings to communities in harm’s way.
For more information about the spotter program, contact Christine Wielgos at Christine.Wielgos@noaa.gov or visit www.weather.gov/pah/.
