Attention storm spotters – an advanced severe weather spotter training class will be held next month.

County Emergency Management Agency Director Susan Harris said Thursday the class will be held on Oct. 17 at the Andalusia Public Library’s Dixon Room at 6 p.m.

“This course covers more advanced radar meteorology, an overview of advanced tools used by experienced mobile storm spotters, and higher level meteorological parameters that National Weather Service meteorologists use to predict severe weather,” Harris said.

The class is approximately one and a half hours.

Harris said agencies depend on the information provided by storm spotters.

“EMA and the NWS need real time reports of weather conditions,” she said. “This class will instruct on what and how to report those weather conditions.”

Also known as a “SKYWARN” class, the event is being sponsored by the county’s Skywarn Group, the Covington County EMA and the NWS office in Mobile.

Jeff Garmon, NWS warning coordination meteorologist, will be the instructor, Harris said.

“This spotter class free to attend, and is open to anyone who has an interest in learning more about spotting and reporting severe weather events,” she said. “It will expand on the information given in a basic spotter class.

“If you have never been to a basic spotter class before, or attended the basic class within the last year, it is recommended that you study the “Basic Spotter’s Field Guide” before attending,” she said.

That guide can be found with this story on The Star-News website.

Contct Harris at 334-428-2670 to register for the class, or for more information. Walk-ins are accepted, but Harris asks that interested attendees pre-register so that enough materials will be available for everyone attending.