02-04-2025
NWS and Warrick County EMA hold storm spotter training as severe weather threat looms
WARRICK CO, Ind. (WEHT) — As the risk for severe weather ramps up again for the Tri-State, the National Weather Service and Warrick County EMA held a special course to teach people how to be become 'SKYWARN Storm Spotters.'
Over 100 people came Tuesday night to the Ohio Township Trustee Events Center in Warrick County to learn about tornadoes, clouds, and how to spot severe weather.
'I've been doing this for the past 25 years, and this is probably one of the biggest crowds we have had in quite some time,' says Christine Welgos, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
People of all ages came to the training, including Samantha Minor. She came with her older brother, Zach Coplea, and says he inspired her to become a weather spotter.
'He went out in the rain and wind to check on the windspeed,' she says.
Coplea is already trained and says it helps the National Weather Service have more eyes and ears on the ground and sometimes issue warnings.
'Knowing what is in their local area when they roll through. It is important to have people who are knowledgeable about that,' Coplea says.
'I think that it is good to have more people out there,' says Corey Respondek, who also came to the training.
Respondek came to become a trained weather spotter. He says a lot has changed over the years, and knowing what to look out for gives people more time to prepare and get to safety.
'They used to look at the radar… and warn the whole county. Now, what really interests me is the live movement. You can take and give people information and help them prepare,' says Respondek.
More information about how to become a SKYWARN storm spotter can be found here.
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