Weather
Midwest-Great Lakes Winter Weather Training: Free NWS Classes Open to Public
Duluth, MN – Residents across the Great Lakes and Midwest have an opportunity to prepare for dangerous winter weather through free online training offered by the National Weather Service, with lessons
By Miles Carter · 2026-10-28T16:00:14.083Z
Duluth, MN – Residents across the Great Lakes and Midwest have an opportunity to prepare for dangerous winter weather through free online training offered by the National Weather Service, with lessons covering snowstorms, winter safety and how to report hazardous conditions.
According to the National Weather Service office in Duluth, Minnesota, the Great Lakes/Midwest Winter Spotter Training program is open to the public and designed to help participants better understand winter storms and their potential impacts.
The online webinars focus on three main areas: winter weather safety, understanding winter weather and accurately spotting and reporting winter conditions to meteorologists.
Participants will learn about the science behind winter storms and how observations from the public can help weather forecasters better understand developing conditions.
The training is especially relevant across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and other Midwestern states where winter storms can create hazardous travel conditions, reduced visibility and rapidly changing road conditions.
Unlike traditional weather alerts, which notify residents about immediate threats, the spotter training focuses on preparation and recognizing potentially dangerous conditions before and during winter weather events.
The National Weather Service encourages interested residents to participate, regardless of whether they have previous weather spotting experience.
Community members who complete the training can gain a better understanding of what information is useful when reporting winter weather conditions to meteorologists.
The webinars are conducted online, allowing participants to learn without traveling to an in person training location.
Specific session dates and times were not included in the announcement. Residents can review available sessions and registration information through the National Weather Service website.
Registration and schedule: https://www.weather.gov/crh/spottertalks?wfo=DLH
The training provides another opportunity for residents to improve winter weather awareness as the colder months approach.