The National Weather Service in Albuquerque is recruiting SKYWARN Spotters in its County Warning and Forecast Area, which includes Quay County, according to a release from the NWS.

The purpose of the SKYWARN program is to train members of the general public to recognize and report severe weather to the NWS. Visual detection and confirmation of severe weather by SKYWARN spotters, in conjunction with advanced technology such as Doppler Radar, plays a key role in the process of warning the general public about impending severe weather, the release said.

 Warnings for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash floods which are issued by the NWS are communicated to local emergency managers who take appropriate actions to protect life and property of citizens in their jurisdictions.

SKYWARN spotters must be at least 18 years of age, a full-time resident of New Mexico, be able to observe and report severe weather in their community, and attend a free three-hour training class. SKYWARN spotter training classes have been scheduled at the Tucumcari Convention Center in Tucumcari at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on March 31.

Anyone wishing to become a SKYWARN spotter can fulfill their training requirement by attending one of these classes. 

For more information about the SKYWARN spotter program,  contact Ken Drozd  by email at Kenneth.Drozd@noaa.gov or call 1-888-386-7637.