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This yearÕs seminar will be on Wednesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at the Stone House, located next to the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, on the corner of Third and Coral Streets.Ê

The presenter will be Jim Keysor from the National Weather Service in Gaylord.Ê

"We had between 15 and 20 people at last yearÕs seminar," Dan Caviston Kalkaska Emergency Management coordinator said. Ò't is very informative and Jim does an excellent job.Ó"

The presentations are free and open to the public. The program provides details about how to become a weather spotter and how to make a complete report to the National Weather Service.

Each person that attends is given severe weather handouts, an official laminated National Weather Service spotter card, and access to a special 800 number specifically designated for spotters.

Last year over 600 people attended these talks, with many signing up to become official National Weather Service spotters. Anyone interested in storm spotting and severe weather should attend.

The National Weather Service talk lasts about two hours, and covers many important aspects to weather reporting and safety such as: thunderstorm ingredients; lightning and hail development; lightning safety; heat lightning; how tornadoes form; waterspouts; rip currents; National Weather Service warning criteria; what to report; wind scales and how to make a good wind estimate; important cloud formations to look for; clouds and look-a-likes ... things that can fool you; storm viewing safety; and sources of weather information from the National Weather Service.

A calendar of scheduled talks can be found on the Web: crh.noaa.gov/apx/spotter/spotterTalk.php.

Talks also will be promoted on NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio. For more information, call Caviston at 231-258-3334.