Omaha expert stresses importance of trained storm spotters [Video]

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – It’s now severe weather season across the Omaha area.

Advanced technology helps meteorologists locate storms more accurately than ever before, but these tools often fail to detect severe weather occurring at or near the ground. Because of this, storm spotters are extremely important.

“We have our tools at the office that we can use to see storms like our radar and our satellite, but we really need that ground truth from our spotters. They are our eyes,” said Becky Kern, Lead Meteorologist for the Omaha National Weather Service.

Every year from February to April, the Omaha NWS holds storm spotter training classes for the public and first responders.

“Educating the public and the first responders on that terminology, right. How to report it. Is it softball sized hail or marble sized hail? All of those things become critical to issue warnings,” said Thomas Smith, Dodge County …