Preparing for the Next Severe Storm

The National Weather Service in St. Louis, in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) and St. Louis Community College, will offer its annual Storm Spotter Class on March 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the William J. Harrison Center, located at 3140 Cass Ave. St. Louis, MO 63106. The class covers how to identify hazardous weather and report it to the National Weather Service, which uses these reports to alert the city and its residents to dangerous conditions.

The free interactive discussion allows attendees to hear directly from those trained to monitor, observe, and assess the hazards of severe weather, and to understand the basics of thunderstorm development, storm structures, and key features to look for and where to find them. All ages are welcome to attend, but a guardian is encouraged to accompany any minors.

“2025 was a very active season for severe storms in the Midwest, and we will see the impacts of the May 16, 2025, tornado that hit the City of St. Louis for years to come,” says Matthew Beitscher, Lead Meteorologist for the National Weather Service St. Louis office. “We want St. Louis residents to feel empowered to know how to notice severe weather conditions and what to do when they impact the community.”

“Working alongside expert partners like the National Weather Service allows us to bring critical, life-saving knowledge directly to residents. What you learn on March 5 stays with you—these skills protect you and your family whether a storm catches you at home, at work, or on the road,” says Gregg Favre, Commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency.

The class will last approximately two hours, and no registration is required. American Sign Language interpretation will be available through a partnership with the City of St. Louis Office on the Disabled.

A second Storm Spotter Class will be offered in the City of St. Louis on April 16, 2026, at the BJC at the Commons, 4249 Clayton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will also have American Sign Language interpretation. Additional sessions are scheduled throughout the St. Louis area. Dates and times are listed at weather.gov/stlouis/spottertalks.

Residents are also encouraged to have multiple ways to stay informed about when severe weather occurs in the City of St. Louis. Using a weather radio to receive alerts directly from the National Weather Service and signing up for the City’s NotifySTL alert system at stlouis-mo.gov/notifystl can help residents feel more confident in their preparedness and safety during storms.