ABC 33/40 E-Forecast - Storm Alert Xtreme!

Here is a special note for our E-Forecast subscribers...

People often ask how they can become one of our Skywatchers; my
response is that you have to love weather, have a computer and a
camera, and be willing to be trained. We do that training only once a
year, and this year's Storm Alert Xtreme is less than one month away.
We will be at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on Saturday,
November 14; we will begin at 9:30, and wrap up by 2:30. There is no
admission charge, and everybody that comes for training gets free
admission to the Alabama International Auto Show, which is going on at
the same venue.

Our own Brian Peters, long time Warning-Coordination Meteorologist for
the Birmingham National Weather Service office, will do the training.
The morning session will be the basic class, followed by the advanced
class after lunch. I will be there as well, and we encourage all
existing Skywatchers to attend for their annual refresher course. I
have been a professional meteorologist for over 30 years, and I always
learn something new when Brian teaches. He really does a wonderful job.

In addition to those who want to join our team of Skywatchers, this is
also a wonderful training opportunity for first responders, utility
workers, EMA (emergency management agency) staff members, and students
interested in meteorology. Everybody who attends will gain admission
into our Skywatcher IM chat session, meaning we see your reports in
real time during active and severe weather events. We currently have
over 500 active Skywatchers on our roster, and are looking for more.
We are especially interested in new Skywatchers in rural areas of
Alabama where severe weather reports are hard to find. Radar is a
wonderful tool, but the beam gets higher off the ground as it gets
farther away from the radar site, and trained eyes are crucial to
accurate warnings.

We have had wonderful crowds in recent years, and we expect a bigger
group this year. So, if you are a Skywatcher now, or want to be one,
we will see you on Saturday, November 14 at the BJCC at 9:30. No need
to register, just show up. Look for the signs that will be placed
around the site for directions!To subscribe or unsubscribe from the ABC 33/40 E-Forecast, go here:
http://www.jamesspann.com/eforecast.html