Norman weather experts will come to Altus by way of the Internet to present a weather program to students online and those at the Southwest Technology Center, 711 W Tamarack on Oct. 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., according to emergency management officials.

“NWS Norman will be conducting a virtual storm spotter training session via webinar,” said Rick Smith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the weather service office. The information about registering for the webinar is included below. “Please feel free to forward this to your spotter groups or anyone who might be interested,” he added.

Altus Emergency Lloyd Colston said that is timely training, “Oklahoma actually has two tornado seasons …and we are entering the second one.”

Smith offers these tips to register for the webinar:

1. The training is geared toward new and veteran storm spotters, aswell as the general public and anyone interested in severe storms in or adjacent to the NWS Norman county warning area.

2. The webinar will be slightly different than the ones did earlier this year. Some very basic information about dual pol radar, as well as some information concerning the fall severe weather season will precede the basics and will also be a good refresher for those who have attended training before. There will be no video, however.

3. You can access the training material (which will be very similar to what’s presented on the webinars) on the NWS YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/usweathergov#g/c/E428D98ED9A614C9 in case you are not able to make it. Feel free to share this link.

4. Individuals can register and participate in the training, but spotters should check with their local emergency manager/spotter group leader to find out whether the training will satisfy any local

training requirements.

5. Oklahoma law enforcement officers are eligible for two hours of CLEET credit, but only if they attend the training at a location hosted by an emergency manager. They cannot award credit for individuals who complete the training individually.

6. Emergency managers and others may wish to host the training at a central location and invite people to participate as a group.

7. A certificate will be provided for those who participate in the webinar.

Space is limited. To reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/640446561

Although anyone can participate, the training is geared toward storm spotters in the NWS Norman county warning area, including central and western Oklahoma and western north Texas.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Colston set up a separate registration page at http://altusskywarn.eventbrite.com for those who do not have internet

and as a service to local law enforcement officials who need the continuing education hours mentioned by Smith.

There is no need to register at both but select the EventBrite site, to attend the class at the Vo-Tech.

Colston stressed the value of partnerships with emergency management, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, Altus Skywarn, and the National Weather Service.

Persons desiring more information can visit the LEPC blog at http://altuslepc.blogspot.com/, while http://altusskywarn.org/ offers information about the local Skywarn group, http://altusem.blogspot.com provides information about the local emergency management program, and weather.gov/norman is the site for the National Weather Service.