Storm spotter training in Huron County

Stormy skies are seen in Wingham, Ont. on Thursday, April 25, 2013.

If you’re someone who loves to keep an eye on the weather, then Environment Canada might be looking for you.

Environment Canada’s CANWARN (Canadian Weather Amateur Radio Network) is a group of formally trained severe weather spotters.

Once a group of ham radio operators, it now includes members of local organizations like the Red Cross, government staff and members of the public.

On Thursday a workshop was held in Wingham, Ont. to help teach people what to look for when it comes to extreme weather.

Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says they have good technology, satellite and radar information but “often times the last piece of the puzzle is what’s going on at ground level.”

And Huron County is no stranger to extreme weather. An F3 tornado tore through Goderich in August 2011, killing one man and injuring many more.

Neil Cleveland lived through that tornado and says “I’m from Goderich, I guess the tornado helped us be more aware of the possibility of bad weather turning into even worse weather.”

And emergency responders like James Marshall with the Morris-Turnberry Fire Department want to be prepared for the worst.

“My hope is to see just what we can be looking for in the skies if there’s any signs that we can be responding to, to be proactive with.”

In 2012 there were nine tornadoes in Ontario, that’s below the long-term average of 12.

As for this year Coulson says “Heading into May the forecasts at this point are for somewhat warmer than normal conditions…but at this point in time it’s difficult to say what we could be looking at for June, July and August with respect to severe thunderstorms.”

Those at the workshop got an idea of the cloud formations to look for and who to call when they see bad weather, information that could save a life.