The National Weather Service (NWS) is offering classes for local residents who are interested in becoming weather spotters. 

The classes are designed to educate the public on weather threats in this area, as well as strengthen the ties between the NWS and the local community. The more spotters the NWS has out there, the faster vital information gets to the NWS forecasters who make the decisions to issue life-saving weather warnings, according to a NWS statement. 

Skywarn Spotter Classes are offered free of charge. A National Weather Service meteorologist will teach the class. 

There is a Winter Storms class being offered at the Carroll County government office building, 225 N. Center St., on Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. You can register for the class on the NWS website.

There is a prerequisite class for the Winter Storms class. Anyone who wants to take the Winter Storms class in Carroll County must have already taken the Basics I class, which is being offered in Loudoun, VA on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23.

A NWS spokesperson said that people will not be removed from the Winter Storms class if they have not taken the Basics I class first, although the Basics I class is recommended. 

The Basics I class offers a general overview of severe weather, and upon completion of the class, attendees will be registered in the program by the NWS. 

The Winter Storms class offers an overview of winter weather threats in this area. 

*Article was updated at 2:45 p.m. Sept. 12 to reflect that people can attend without first taking the prerequisite course.

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