Does spotter training need improving?

[Rich Long]

I lead a small group of city officials and our groups leadership to our local National Weather Service office (OHX) this morning and one of the topics we discussed was ways they could help make our training better. One thing i asked for was a class in radar interpretation. The WCM had a class made up for that and will be presenting it to our group in late January.

Sometimes the extra training is there but you just have to ask.

[John Wetter]

I always find it interesting that radar interpretation is requested so much. How does this help with looking at clouds though? Or, without doing this, how do you avoid becoming too technology centered?

Just thoughts.

[rdale]

Originally Posted by John Wetter

I always find it interesting that radar interpretation is requested so much. How does this help with looking at clouds though?

It might be more for the at-home spotters, who chime in on the net with "I just saw The Weather Channel and they are showing red over me, might be a tornado" or "GRLevel3 is showing a TVS over Jonestown, so I'm telling the fire department to sound the sirens".

I'm only 1/4th joking.

[Greg Stumpf]

Originally Posted by John Wetter

I always find it interesting that radar interpretation is requested so much. How does this help with looking at clouds though?

With so many spotters equipped with mobile internet, I think integrating visual observations with radar, both for daytime and nighttime spotting, should be the current framework for storm spotting training. A lot of the false wall cloud and funnel reports might be reduced if those reports could be related to their relative position in the overall structure of the storm, which is easier to interpret given radar data.

[Rich Long]

We requested it because our group is tasked with responding with the fire department on large incidents, Setting off tornado sirens, providing weather information for large public events, etc. All of our spotters report to a central point and they are the operators who need to understand the radar. Our city asks a lot and funds us so we look for the best training we can get.

[Tim Shriver]

Originally Posted by John Wetter

I always find it interesting that radar interpretation is requested so much. How does this help with looking at clouds though? Or, without doing this, how do you avoid becoming too technology centered?

Just thoughts.

The reason might be is they wish to know more. To better understand
and be able to use all the tools available.

We try to link what the spotter/chaser sees in the field with
what it might appear like on the radar.

Having an understanding of and using both together is better then
using one mode alone.

Radar is sort like a fish finder. It indicates where the items
of interest are/were.

It then depends on your skills as an angler to haul in the big one.





Tim

[Todd Krause]

IMO, radar info is one of those "nice to have" topics as part of the spotter class, but in a two hour class, time is at a premium, and most spotters have told me that they benefit more from spending the time learning/reviewing the basics of storm structure and what the important clouds look like. For many of them, it's the only time they'll see this stuff for an entire year. If there are groups that want more info than the basics, we're happy to provide it.

Todd

[rdale]

I do radar interp classes for spotters and EM's - but it's always separate from the NWS training. There's just too much to cram in to make it worthwhile...

[Rich Long]

Rdale

I agree completly and right now that is the plan. If a member wants to work in the trailer he/she needs additional training.

[Shane Adams]

Originally Posted by Greg Stumpf

With so many spotters equipped with mobile internet, I think integrating visual observations with radar, both for daytime and nighttime spotting, should be the current framework for storm spotting training. A lot of the false wall cloud and funnel reports might be reduced if those reports could be related to their relative position in the overall structure of the storm, which is easier to interpret given radar data.

That sounds great on paper, but many spotters struggle with the simplicity of visual observation/identification (despite "training") in the field. Seems unrealistic IMO to expect they could grasp the complexities of radar interpretation. I've sat in many chats watching people prediciting and calling out situations they think will be happening soon or are happening based on their radar observations. Anything not perfectly round is a hook echo, and every garden variety storm with mid-level rotation "should be tornado warned."

I disagree that spotter training should encourage radar watching. I think anything that takes focus away from learning the visual clues/observations in and around severe storms is a deterrent. It's obvious IMO there are enough issues with spotters understanding the visuals as is, without the added distraction of radar.