Free SKYWARN storm-spotter training in McKinney prepares residents

A free SKYWARN severe weather education and storm-spotter training will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Myers Park Event Center in McKinney. The session is open to the public and requires no pre-registration, offering Collin County residents a practical opportunity to learn thunderstorm structure, severe thunderstorm and tornado recognition, safety protocols, and how to report severe weather to the National Weather Service.

The event is a partnership between the Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service, Collin County ARES, and the City of Plano Office of Emergency Management. Collin County ARES represents local Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers who often provide on-the-ground reporting during severe events. Having trained spotters in place can improve the timeliness and precision of local warnings and assists emergency management as the region moves toward the spring severe-weather season.

Training will cover observational skills and reporting procedures that feed directly into official warning systems. That chain of information helps public safety officials prioritize response and can reduce the period between initial reports and issuance of warnings. For communities in North Texas, where spring months typically bring elevated severe-weather activity, expanding a network of trained spotters strengthens neighborhood-level preparedness and situational awareness.

For residents weighing whether to attend, the class is designed for a broad audience: homeowners, business owners, school staff, community volunteers, and licensed radio operators. Local emergency managers see value in increasing the number of trained eyes and ears across Collin County; community-based reporting complements automated sensors and radar to form a fuller picture of storm impacts on the ground.

Beyond immediate safety benefits, improved spotter reporting can have broader fiscal implications. Faster, clearer reporting helps emergency services deploy resources more efficiently and can influence municipal decisions about pre-positioning crews, road closures, and sheltering. Over time, better on-the-ground information can also inform local mitigation planning and reduce avoidable economic disruption from severe events.

Those planning to attend should arrive before 9:00 a.m. to allow time for check-in. Residents seeking additional opportunities can consult the National Weather Service Fort Worth website for a schedule of other SKYWARN classes across the region. Strengthening the county’s spotter network now aims to lower risks and shorten recovery times as severe-weather season approaches.