Attendees watch a video of a wedge-shaped tornado at Monday’s storm spotter training at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Nearly 75 people, including members of seven area fire departments and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and four members of the KCII Severe Weather Action Team attended storm spotter training in Washington Monday night. National Weather Service meteorologists John Haase and Mike McClure led the class and went over the differences in wind speeds, cloud formations, watches, warnings, and tornadoes.

The pair reminded all weather spotters to always keep safety in mind when observing severe weather. To be a severe storm it must have at least one inch hail or 58 mile per hour winds and to be a tornado it needs to have rotation and debris. Haase added they’ve had tornadoes in every month of the year except February, although strong winds and resulting damage claim more lives than tornadoes.

The KCII Severe Weather Action Team will be there when severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are issued, bringing you up to the minute information from meteorologists and local officials. Listen to KCII for weather updates throughout the year.