How quickly things can happen

My secret is out.

In his column last week, Eli let the whole world know that I am hesitant to write a weekly column because I sometimes have trouble finding a topic I feel inspired to write about. I am occasionally approached by folks who say they follow my column–I bet those people can easily tell when I am writing from my heart and when I am simply fulfilling an assignment.

Just now, the March 5 “Skywarn” training session is on my mind. The 2-hour class will be at the Waseca County Annex (north of the license bureau in the same building) beginning at 6 pm next Tuesday.

I went to my first Skywarn class back in the 1980s during my earlier incarnation as a newspaper writer. Although I had a vague understanding that the purpose of the class is to train people to recognize what elements of a developing thunderstorm might signal extreme weather (think “tornado”), I didn’t realize how enthralling it would be.

Class members learned about the atmospheric conditions which allow storms to develop. We were shown the inner workings of an “anvil” cloud–the precursor to extreme weather. We had stories shared with us of past spotter experiences and of how quickly things can happen in the swirling maelstrom of a thunderstorm.

It was a scientific examination of a nearly mystical topic, and it changed the way I have seen weather ever since.

Despite my fascination, I never registered myself as a volunteer spotter, and so have never been officially deployed to any particular location.  Given that my rural residence affords me a clear view of the southwest sky–the direction storms frequently approach from–I have often stood awestruck on my lawn and studied the clouds. Perhaps three times I have called Waseca County dispatch, identified myself as being “skywarn trained” and reported certain information about threatening conditions.

I have attended Skywarn sessions roughly every five years since the 1980s. It is a chance to refresh my knowledge and to hear more hair-raising stories. No two presenters are the same, so someone with scads of time might consider attending a few skywarn classes in a single season. Most counties offer the session about this time of year. Most times, a person reads that a class about extreme summer weather is being offered in early March, looks at the snow on the ground, and wonders what the rush might be.

However, at the class they will tell us the severe weather season begins in March and lasts into the fall.  Recent experience shows it may be becoming a year-round threat.

I hope my ramblings have motivated you to sign up for a Skywarn session.  As I said, it’s a grand opportunity, whether you are there to become qualified to serve as a spotter, whether you like hearing the stories and experiences of people crazy enough to station themselves outdoors during a weather event, or even if you just happen to be intellectually curious. As I said, I attended the first time not knowing what I was getting into, and have never looked back.

To help assure there will be sufficient coffee and cookies for everyone, you might consider preregistering with an email to denise.wright@wasecacounty.gov. But know that, even if your decision to attend is spur of the moment, you will still be allowed in. Perhaps I’ll see you there.