National Weather Service needs trained weather spotters to "help you help your community"

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- When it comes to issuing severe weather warnings, the National Weather Service says it could use your help. They're asking anyone who's interested to take a free weather spotter training class.

Meteorologists say radar only tells part of the story. It shows what's happening in the sky but not what those storms are producing -- that's where weather spotters come in.

Meteorologist Ben Herzog says it's easier for someone to ignore warnings of severe weather when all they see is the radar. He says it's different when a trained spotter reports seeing a tornado, or the damage it's left behind.

"These real-time spotter reports can help get people's attention. It's one thing for a meteorologist to say our radar indicates a tornado in a particular area or hail in a particular area. The message carries more weight if we can say a trained weather spotter reports a tornado in the area," said Herzog.

For meteorologists, radar gives a good indication of what's going on outside, but they need people to confirm what's actually happening.

"Spotters are our eyes on the ground and that's really the biggest thing because radar can only see into lower to mid-level parts of that thunderstorm and we need to know what's coming out of the base of that thunderstorm," said FOX6 News Meteorologist, Tom Wachs.

Often times, those spotter reports will determine what type of warning is issued. Herzog says that's exactly what happened Thursday night in the Sullivan office.

"The primary reason that went out as a tornado warning was because we got reports from Illinois there was a tornado on the ground as it was getting ready to cross into our area," said Herzog.

Herzog says there's always a need for more spotters and with storm season upon us, now is the time to get trained.

"The primary job of the National Weather Service is to protect life and property. If you have any interest in helping achieve that goal, then that hour or two of your time is an incredibly easy way to help you help your community," said

Herzog says those spotter reports are especially useful now with social media; spotters can tweet out pictures of hail or storm damage.

There are 11 classes remaining this spring, CLICK HERE for scheduling.