Free SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training Offered in Laramie This April

Before the next round of hail cracks a windshield on Grand Avenue or floodwaters back up along 3rd Street, the National Weather Service wants more trained eyes on the ground across Albany County.

NWS Cheyenne works closely with Albany County's Emergency Management Agency on weather preparedness, and on April 6 at 6 p.m., that partnership extends directly to Laramie residents: the agency is offering a free SKYWARN Storm Spotter training session open to all ages. Classes typically run about two hours.

The timing is deliberate. Spring is Albany County's sharpest severe weather window, and the county's storm history makes a persuasive case for why more spotters matter here. Laramie has seen gusts reach 90 mph in a single wind event, downing trees and power lines across the city and leaving crews working through the damage for days. A separate flash flooding episode pushed the Laramie Police Department to warn drivers away from 3rd and 4th streets north of Harney Street, with Albany County officials weighing a formal disaster declaration over the losses. Both events were exactly the kind that a trained SKYWARN spotter, positioned safely and reporting in real time, can help NWS meteorologists verify and track.

Since the program launched in the 1970s, SKYWARN spotter reports combined with Doppler radar data have helped NWS issue faster and more accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods. The program now counts between 350,000 and 400,000 trained volunteer spotters nationally.

The April 6 session will cover how to identify storm features, how to report severe weather observations, and a refresher on severe weather safety. That includes what qualifies as a reportable observation: hail size, flooding extent, estimated wind damage, and the proper channel for getting that information to NWS Cheyenne while a storm is still moving. The safety component also addresses when not to act, because driving toward a flooded low-water crossing to confirm its depth generates a rescue call, not useful data.

No registration is required and attendance is free. Location details for the April 6 session are posted on the NWS Cheyenne SKYWARN page. Additional training sessions are offered throughout the spring before the summer severe weather season ramps up.