(Milford)– Storm spotter seminars are back this spring. The in-person sessions are put on by the National Weather Service. Dickinson County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Ehret says one of those is coming up tomorrow (Thurs.) evening in Milford…
“We were actually able to get it scheduled the same week as Severe Weather Week so that worked out well and we’re glad to have those back again. Of course we were supposed to have it last year and with all the budget issues they were having at the federal level it got canceled, so we’re happy to have it scheduled this year. It’ll be Thursday night at 7:00 down at the fire station in Milford. It’s open to the public. There’s no pre-registration required. If you have any interest at all in severe weather and weather safety and that sort of thing, come on out. It’s a good class. A meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls will be there to lead that. It’s a good opportunity to talk to them, as well.”
Ehret says even with all the modern day technology, there’s still nothing that beats having people on the ground…
“Radar is great, technology is great, but when you look at how far, you know. We’re sitting 80, 90 miles from Sioux Falls from that radar. By the time that beam gets to us, it’s about a mile over our head so they still need folks on the ground for that, that ground crew, to really see what’s going on out there. They do a great job but the technology can only do so much.”
For those who can’t make it to the in-person sessions, the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls will also be holding some online programs. They will be held Thursday, April 2nd from 1:00 until 3:00 pm and Tuesday, April 21st from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. Pre-registration for those and more information can be found at the National Weather Service Sioux Falls website.
