Free Storm Spotter Class Offered Thursday

The National Weather Service in St. Louis has teamed up with the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) and the St. Louis Public Library to provide training for anyone in the community, regardless of age, to better understand severe weather in St. Louis. This free class will be held at the Julia Davis Branch, located at 4415 Natural Bridge, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

The class will be interactive with opportunities for questions. Attendees will learn the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structure, key features to look for, and where to find them. Basic severe weather safety will also be covered during the session.

“These classes are important for weather awareness, but also for meteorologists like me to connect with the public”, says Matt Beitscher, Lead Meteorologist for the St. Louis office. “It allows us to share with them that we need their help to report storm damage, and how they can do that once trained as storm spotters.”

“CEMA is excited to partner with the National Weather Service and the St. Louis Public Library to help our residents learn about severe weather,” says Sarah Russell, Commissioner for the City Emergency Management Agency. “By understanding how storms form and what to look for, residents can better protect themselves and their families when severe weather moves into the St. Louis area.

The class will last approximately two hours. Registration is not required for Thursday’s session.

Residents are also encouraged to have multiple ways to stay informed about when severe weather occurs in the City of St. Louis. It is recommended that households use a weather radio to receive alerts directly from the National Weather Service and to sign up for the City’s NotifySTL alert system at stlouis-mo.gov/notifystl.