MUSCLE SHOALS — Severe weather spotter classes are a chance to get a better understanding of the potential for bad weather, according to Colbert County Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Melton.

“These classes are a way to help the public be better prepared in case of bad weather,” Melton said.

Lauderdale EMA Director George Grabryan encouraged attendance.

“There’s a lot of good information that will help the public get a better understanding of severe weather,” he said.

The class Thursday is from 6-8 p.m. in the Bevill Center at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals. On March 28, from 6-8 p.m., a class will be held at the University of North Alabama East Campus in the culinary classroom.

The classes are free and conducted by officials with the National Weather Service in Huntsville.

“Everybody that attends will come away with a better understanding of severe weather and when it’s time to take cover before the storm, not in the middle or the beginning of the storm,” Melton said. “A lot of people want to wait until the (weather) sirens go off. This program will let the public know when they need to get to a safe place and let them know if they wait, it could be too late.

“And you can never have too many people trained to be looking for severe weather patterns,” Melton said.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.

Want to go?

What: Severe weather spotter training class

When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday

Where: Bevill Center, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals

Cost: Free