NIU Weather will conduct a weather spotter training seminar Feb. 19.

The seminar will teach people of all ages what to look out for and how to report these signs to the National Weather Service, according an NIU Weather Facebook post.

 “We will teach the basics of how storms work, what to look for, how to spot tornadoes, hail, microbursts and how to report these to the National Weather Service,” said NIU meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste.

Weather spotters are essential because they can report things like the damage a tornado or other natural disaster may have caused, Sebenste said.

“Even if you’re not interested in being a weather spotter the training is helpful for spotting whether or not a potential storm could be bad,” Sebenste said.

The seminar is 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in LaTourette Hall, Room 200. The seminar will last about two hours and everyone is welcome, although it is recommended participants be at least 13 years old. NIU Weather is working in cooperation with the student chapters of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society for this event.