If you’ve ever wanted to be a severe weather spotter for the National Weather Service, your chance is coming up – and it’s free.

The National Weather Service will be holding a SKYWARN Spotters class in Troy at the Joint Training Center of Troy University on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.

“Spotters are our eyes and ears out there,” said Pike County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeanna Barnes. “They are vital to the area’s safety.”

At the class, participants will learn the basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure, how to identify potential severe weather features, what information should be reported and how to report that information.

“At the end of the class, participants will be National Weather Service storm spotters,” Barnes said. “Storm spotters are part of the ranks of people who form the nation’s first line of defense against severe weather.”

Upon completion of the class, SKYWARN spotters are eligible to take a free online graduate course from the NWS on Nov. 15.

Space is limited. The deadline to register for the class is Friday. Those interested should call Jeanna Barnes or Jessi Smith at 566-8272.