Everyday citizens can help warn emergency management officials when tornadoes and other weather incidents arise. Photo courtesy NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A Thursday class will train the public to detect life threatening weather conditions and help warn their community.

The 2007 Skywarn Class will be held 7 p.m. Thursday (March 29) at Lapeer East High School. The free training will teach individuals how to accurately spot weather phenomena such as wall clouds, funnel clouds, tornadoes and shelf clouds associated with squall lines.

Trained spotters often alert the National Weather Service in advance of their own equipment.

"Each person is issued a Skywarn card with a number," said Lapeer County Office of Emergency Management Director Mary Stikeleather. "When spotters see hazardous conditions, they contact the National Weather Service. General citizens are one of our greatest resources. They become the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service, law enforcement, fire and emergency personnel."

The class is taught by a National Weather Service meteorologist from the White Lake office. Topics covered include the role of the spotter, what and how to report information to the NWS and severe weather safety tips. Spotters will learn tornado classifications, necessary atmospheric conditions for thunderstorms, and how to distinguish real tornadoes and funnel clouds from look-a-likes.

Doug Donner, 40, of Almont, has been trained as a spotter for three years. He has time to judge weather conditions during his 40-mile, two county commute each way to work in Madison Heights.

"Since I've been trained as a spotter, I've reported hail, wind and heavy rain and ice conditions during the winter," said Donner, who is Lapeer County's Emergency Coordinator for amateur radio.

"The NWS requires you go for training every two years, but I try to go every year," Donner said. "There is so much to learn, and it's very interesting. They teach how a storm is formed, and what happens."

The Lapeer County Amateur Radio Association assisted Stikeleather this year with pre registration for the popular event. There are many open seats for drop-ins at the Lapeer East auditorium on 933 Saginaw Street. For information, call Stikeleather at (810) 667-0242.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com