The Austin/San Antonio Weather Forecast Office offers SKYWARN® and FloodAware training sessions to prepare citizens, first responders, emergency management, amateur radio operators, and volunteer organizations for hazardous weather threats specific to South Central Texas. These sessions also serve as an opportunity for the public to learn how to assist local forecasters with weather reports during these critical weather events. Public reports are often our most valuable data for warning decisions.
Please visit the tabs above for information on each training program. Past virtual training sessions may be available to view in the specific tabs as well.
Most SKYWARN® training sessions are conducted in the Spring to coincide with severe weather season, but other sessions may be offered throughout the year. FloodAware sessions also may be offered throughout the year.
Please use the calendar below to find an upcoming session in your area. Scheduled training sessions are free and open to the general public. There is no pre-registration unless specifically noted. If you would like the NWS to schedule a training in your area or for a specific group, please contact Paul Yura, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, at 830-629-0130 ext 223 or email paul.yura@noaa.gov.
Local SKYWARN® severe weather training offers citizens, first responders, emergency management, amateur radio operators, and volunteer organizations the opportunity to learn about severe weather information specific to South Central Texas. These sessions also improve preparedness and provide procedures for reporting severe weather to local NWS forecasters.
Most local SKYWARN® training sessions are conducted in the Spring to coincide with severe weather season, but other sessions may be offered throughout the year. Scheduled training sessions are free and open to the general public.
Basic SKYWARN® training is for everyone and provides a basic overview of severe thunderstorms, their hazards, how they form, and their structure. This session also goes into detail about how to remain safe during severe weather and how to report severe weather to the local NWS office.
After basic training is complete (about 1.5 hours), you will be an official weather spotter for the National Weather Service. The NWS will count on you to be our "eyes" out in the field when trying to verify severe weather across South Central Texas. With 33 counties under the jurisdiction of the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service, it becomes very important to verify and accurately determine where severe weather is occurring. Real-time reports to our office save lives and property. Also, post storm reports can help help us find severe weather damage, tornado tracks, and verify severe weather warnings.
Advanced SKYWARN® is a more in depth look at severe weather for those who would like to learn more. Topics that are covered in this session include weather models, a more complete review of severe weather ingredients, and a broad overview of weather radar, its products, and uses. We usually only offer a few advanced sessions each year.
Please use the calendar tab to find upcoming session dates.
We sometimes hold live virtual training sessions and those can be found on the calendar training tab along with in-person sessions. Recently recorded local virtual sessions are available below.
National SKYWARN® training is available via this COMET MetEd online course. This online training should only be used to supplement what is taught at a local NWS SKYWARN® session. Attendance at a local training session is highly encouraged.
Flooding is a top threat in South Central Texas, especially given our location along Flash Flood Alley. The Austin/San Antonio WFO now offers specialized flash flood training sessions, called FloodAware, across the area. These training sessions focus solely on Flood and Flash Flood issues of the region and discuss the meteorology behind the record flooding that we get here in this part of the state. Most training sessions will last two hours and include flood information from the National Weather Service as well as the local Emergency Management office, River Authority, or other water organization.
Please use the calendar tab to find session dates.
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