Storm Spotting Education.

First of all I would like to thank Jeff for asking me to contribute to the site. I have been a routine visitor for some time now and I hope to provide some interesting posts that will not only inform and entertain but educate as well.

I would like to inform readers of a great online weather training class. The class is now a requirement for all spotter network members. For those of you that are not familiar with Spotter Network I will give you a quick description. Spotternetwork is a web based application that utilizes gps and alternate feeds to report severe weather to local skywarn spotter networks and the NWS. Checkout Spotternetwork.org here.

The training class is web based and is open to anyone that wants to educate themselves about all types of weather activity. The class goes into just enough detail that it will not bore or intimidate the amateur weather enthusiasts. The class is loaded with photos, animations and videos to help educate the student. I would suggest the class to all spotters and weather enthusiasts.

The weather training class is hosted at NSR Online Weather Training
. Check it out! You can never have enough training!

Tim - KD0DJQ
Stormwx.net

Tim Frazier - New Contributor for OzarkStorms.com

OzarkStorms.com welcomes a new contributor to the site. Tim Frazier (KD0DJQ) is from Carl Junction, MO and will help provide content for the site. Tim was born and raised in the area and has been interested in weather for as long as he can remember. Tim helped organize the local SkyWarn group in the Joplin area with the help of Marshal Graham (KD0DJR). They are active in SkyWarn and run the MoKanEp.com SkyWarn site.

Tim's goal in storm spotting/chasing is to disseminate information to the National Weather Service to help protect the public, and also does his part to get severe weather forecasts to the public through the MoKanEp.com site and the MoKan SkyWarn mailing list.

Thanks to Tim for jumping in to help with the OzarkStorms.com site. It will be nice to have a perspective from the four state area further to the southwest of Springfield.

Severe Weather Threat - Wed. May 13, 2009

There is a threat for severe weather in SW MO on Wednesday. The area is under a Moderate Risk box from the Storm Prediction Center. The Moderate Risk has been there for three days, which is a rare occurrence.

The threats include winds over 80 MPH, baseball size hail, torrential rainfall and tornadoes.



You should stay tuned to local weather forecasts. Make sure your NOAA All Hazards Radio is on and backed up by battery. If you don't own a NOAA All Hazards Radio, you should. Click the link for a previous blog post on selecting one.

Tornado and Storm Damage Across SW MO

Reports are flowing in from the media about damage across Southwest MO. There have been a few reported tornadoes on the ground, including in Republic, MO and Strafford, MO. Here are some of the damage reports. More later...

• Fair Grove high school (Greene, Co.)
  
• KSNF TV tower blown down in Joplin, MO (Jasper Co.)
  
• Barn blown into road in Clever, MO (Christian Co.)
• Tractor trailer overturned I-44 at mile marker 83 (Webster Co.)

Tornado reports are unconfirmed.

Severe Storms Possible - Thursday 5/7/09

Severe storms will be possible in SW MO this evening, especially after 10 p.m. The NWS reports that large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and isolated tornadoes are possible. The Storm Prediction Center currently shows (as of 17:10) a 5% chance of tornadoes in the SW MO area.

You should stay tuned to local weather forecasts. Make sure your NOAA All Hazards Radio is on and backed up by battery. If you don't own a NOAA All Hazards Radio, you should. Click the link for a previous blog post on selecting one.

Carthage Storm - 5/1/2009

Tim Frazier (KD0DJQ) from Carl Junction snapped these phone pics from the Carthage area today. Beautiful storm...thanks Tim!