Weather Spotter Resource Page

What is an NWS Weather Spotter?
The National Weather Service in Spokane is looking for volunteers who would like to become weather spotters. Weather spotters provide 'on the spot' weather reports -- which cannot be replaced by other means. These weather reports greatly assist the National Weather Service in determining the strength of a storm and its effects on the surrounding area.

• Learn of the different Ways to be a Weather Volunteer with the National Weather Service. 
• NWS SKYWARN national page

What Kind of Weather Do Spotters Report?
Most people think weather spotters are only useful to the National Weather Service during thunderstorm season. However, spotters are vital to the year-round operations of the National Weather Service. For example, reports of freezing rain, snow and flooding are equally useful to forecasters.

• Use the local NWS Spokane - Spotter Checklist  to see what types of weather is important to report.
• For a current list of severe reports, see the Latest NWS Spotter Storm Reports

Where are weather spotters needed?
The National Weather Service is always recruiting new weather spotters in ALL parts of the Inland Northwest. There is currently a large concentration of spotters in the bigger cities of the region; like the Spokane metro area, Coeur d'Alene, Wenatchee, Lewiston, Moses Lake, and Pullman. There is a big need for spotters in many of the data sparse areas of the Columbia Basin and the northern Mountains. Overall, we welcome spotters from every county across the Inland Northwest.

So How Do You Become a Weather Spotter? 
Simply contact the NWS. Please include your name, address, phone number, elevation and distance from town.

• You can use this Spotter Sign up Form and email to nws.spokane@noaa.gov 
• Or simply use the Online Weather Spotter Sign Up Form                 

After the information is processed, you will become a registered weather spotter and receive a personal Spotter ID number via email. Then you will be able to provide official spotter reports through our 800 number or online

• Registered weather spotters are able to Send Spotter Reports Online

​We occasionally call our spotters at home to help assess weather situations -- and give us an 'eyes on' view of the weather in their area.  The most important types of weather to report to the National Weather Service include snow, flooding, heavy rain, wind damage, hail and tornadoes/funnel clouds. 

• Our quarterly newsletter, The Inland Northwest Weather Watcher. We also encourage our weather spotters to send in interesting weather stories and pictures to be included in the newsletter.

What about Weather Spotter Training? 
Spotter training sessions are important and needed to stay current on severe weather spotting. The sessions are conducted by the National Weather Service in the spring and fall. It's an opportunity for spotters to review basic spotter techniques and weather safety concerns.

• Spotter Training Schedule will be posted when and where classes are offered. 
• Recorded Spotter training is available locally and nationally 

Locally Recorded Spotter Training