Severe weather spotter training classes offered in Northland, online

DULUTH — The National Weather Service is offering free Skywarn Spotter Training classes across northeastern and north-central Minnesota this spring.

Skywarn is a cooperative effort between the weather service, local emergency management and volunteer citizens.

Volunteer spotters share their weather reports with the weather service and help the agency deliver accurate and timely severe weather warnings.

There will be over 20 classes offered in-person and online to teach volunteers about thunderstorm safety, the science of storms, cloud formations and more.

The hour-and-a-half-long classes will take place in Grand Rapids, Brainerd, Aitkin, Walker, Two Harbors and Duluth.

Pre-registration for all classes is required.

For those who can't make any classes, the Duluth office also offers an online recorded version of the training.

For those in northwest Minnesota, the Grand Forks National Weather Service office also offers a virtual, asynchronous training program.