Weather Forecasting School

Updated January 8, 2012

Chaser Con 2012 update
Tim Vasquez will not be doing the evening forecast class at the Denver Chaser Con as in previous years, but you can still get the same quality training with forecast expert Jon Davies. Sessions run February 17, 2012 in the evening at the Denver Red Lion hotel. For more information and to register, click here.

The Weather Forecasting School program quickly teaches the inner workings of weather forecasting. It's taught by meteorologist Tim Vasquez, who not only has a forecasting background but also spent 10 years in Air Force meteorology. Since 2001 Tim has taught hundreds of hobbyists and forecasters the science and art of weather forecasting through a unique building-block approach.

So why Weather Forecasting School?

Courses are structured on military physics and meteorology coursework, which teaches vast amounts of operational meteorology in a short time.

At weather conferences, you learn things in piecemeal format. Here you learn it all.

Prepare yourself for college meteorology coursework.

Add Weather Graphics certification to your resume (selected courses only).

In today's tough economy, quality technical training sets you apart from the rest.

Whether you're a casual weather hobbyist or an experienced SKYWARN net controller, you'll develop a solid foundation in chase forecasting and meet other dedicated individuals. Thanks to a special course format which teaches you only what you need to know, there's simply no way to learn forecasting from the ground up in one day! It's an investment that can't be beat.

Training in Norman Oklahoma - 2012

Classes are now being offered in March 2012 to coincide with the National Severe Weather Workshop. Classes will be at Tim Vasquez's Weather Graphics office building, which is a leisurely ten minute drive down Highway 9 from the National Severe Weather Workshop venue. We constructed a new multimedia classroom in late 2011 especially for hosting Forecast School sessions. Enjoy the refreshments, wireless internet, and access to Tim's large technical library. Free rides to and from NCED are available for those without transportation. All classes below are conducted by Tim Vasquez unless otherwise specified.

Course	Date	Time	Cost	Registration	Status
Classes during National Severe Weather Workshop
Severe Weather Forecasting - Day Session	Friday, March 2, 2012	1 pm - 5 pm	$65	Register	Available
Severe Weather Forecasting - Night Session	Friday, March 2, 2012	6 pm - 10 pm	$75	Register	Available
Radar Interpretation & Mesoanalysis Lab	Saturday, March 3, 2012	8 am - 12 pm	$65	Register	Available
Other available class dates
Severe Weather Forecasting	Saturday, March 17, 2012	9 am - 1 pm	$65	Register	Available
Radar Interpretation & Mesoanalysis Lab	Saturday, March 24, 2012	9 am - 1 pm	$65	Register	Available

Class information:

Location: All classes are at Weather Graphics' office in Norman, Oklahoma. Directions will be provided when your registration is confirmed.

Confirmation: Your class date is not confirmed until we reply in writing (usually within 24 hours). You may cancel your reservation at any time before the class date and receive a refund.

Refreshments: We will provide snacks, bottled water, soda, and coffee.

Other info: Dress is completely casual; wear whatever you're comfortable in. There is no problem arriving late or leaving early. Class participation and work exercises are not mandatory but are recommended.

Prerequisites: None are required; in fact students generally are a mix of some novices, some intermediates, and a few experts. All courses are adapted to meet the skill levels and interests of the class. If you wish to prepare for the class, we'll be glad to suggest some reading material.

Course certification: Weather Graphics will provide one of two certifications by prior arrangement. These are provided on parchment with our company seal and are frameable. The Course Completion Certificate is awarded to those who were present for 75% of the class time and made a reasonable efort to learn the material presented. Technical Certification (sample) is awarded based upon passing a 10-minute closed book test that is given after the course. Our certification standards are very stringent and there is no assurance of passing. A student who fails will be given a Course Completion Certificate in lieu of certification.

Lodging: If you need lodging, the closest hotel we recommend is Best Western on Classen Blvd in Norman OK (405-701-4011).

Online training course

Work is underway on a correspondence training course, consisting of written material, special work binders, and reference material that will help you learn the art of forecasting from the ground up. This will not be an interactive class; it will be self-paced but will take advantage of multimedia, the Internet, written materials, and actual oversized weather maps. Tutoring via e-mail and chat will be offered, consequently registration numbers at any given time will be limited. To get more information, sign up on the Announcements List on the right side of the page and you will be notified as soon as the first courses are released. More information will be forthcoming in spring 2012.

VIP training sessions

Set your own class date and get a private training session in Norman, Oklahoma, severe weather capital of the world. Training is in the Weather Graphics office classroom. Personalized VIP sessions can be arranged on any day at any time. The cost for Norman VIP training is $295/day or $195/half day. Additional students such as friends and family may attend at half price. You can work on any combination of topics like analysis, soundings, hodographs, models, dynamics, plotting, pattern recognition, diagnostics, satellite, radar interpretation, profilers, chase strategy, storm structure, case studies, isentropic analysis, numerical meteorology, and much more. It's all up to you. To arrange a training session, contact us. Tim Vasquez can also travel to your city to conduct training; send an e-mail for a rate schedule.

Announcement list for
ONLINE COURSES
Sometime in the next year we plan to roll out online training courses. You'll be able to participate from the comfort of your own desk using any web browser. A webcam or microphone will not be required. So you don't miss out, please subscribe to this announcement list to get information as soon as a class is scheduled. You can also unsubscribe at any time if you no longer wish to be on the list.

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Announcement list for
RESIDENT COURSES
If you are able to travel to the Norman, Oklahoma area or live in the area, you might be interested in attending a Forecast School class. To receive announcements about these classes should any be scheduled, subscribe here.

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Tim Vasquez is among the top experts on severe weather forecasting and is an accomplished author and programmer. Tim's interest in weather goes back to 1976, but he began storm chasing in 1986, learning firsthand from master storm forecasters Alan Moller and Tim Marshall.

As an Air Force meteorologist he forecasted weather for a number of special operations, including the F-117A Stealth Fighter in Nevada, U-2 flights for United Nations Command Korea, and for Operation Support Hope in Rwanda. At Dyess AFB, Texas and the Korean Theater Forecast Center in Seoul he was responsible for training and certifying all incoming meteorologists. He completed WSR-88D doppler radar training by Unisys (the radar's manufacturer) and holds certification in operating all parts of the radar unit including the antenna RDA and RPG equipment.

Tim programmed and wrote the Digital Atmosphere analysis and display system which has been in use by thousands of private meteorologists, hobbyists, and weather agencies worldwide since 1996. In 2009 he appeared on CBS Evening News, The Weather Channel, and the BBC as an expert on the weather affecting Air France Flight 447.

His books, including Weather Forecasting Handbook, Weather Map Handbook, and Storm Chasing Handbook are popular titles and are used in weather courses at universities across the country, and he's written the Forecast Center column in Weatherwise magazine since 2001.

Questions and comments
For questions about the Forecast School courses, send us an e-mail!

"I just wanted to say thank you for an excellent class on March 10th, and it was a pleasure to meet you and Shannon in person! Sara, Keith, and I learned a lot about forecasting, particularly jet streaks and adjusting SKEW-T plots to accommodate surface heating. If you are considering hosting another class, perhaps with the "next step" in forecasting, you've got three people ready to sign up!"

"Thanks for the chase forecast class yesterday. I'm still fairly new to chasing in the Plains, but the class boosted my confidence in my forecast ability. Please keep the classes coming... they are really great!"

"Enjoyed the class Saturday, please put me on a waiting list for the next open chase target selection class"

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the class. �Worth every penny! I hope next year I hope you are allowed to go over soundings more thoroughly and applications with soundings from surrounding office and kinda of a refresher for not only thunderstorm events but briefly cover severe winter weather events. Great class again!"

"Thanks for your forecasting class at the ChaserCon!� I'm also working through your book now. I enjoyed the class, although I was wracking my brain to remember a lot of basic meteorology."

"Just a note to once again say I thoroughly enjoyed your class and found it to be worth every penny! I will re-read your books with some new found enthusiasm! You and Jim did a great job of finding out our needs and then filling them with a patient understanding. Like I told Jim, that is a quality I have found to be true with every meteorologist I have ever met! Well...ok with the exception of Les Lemon >:-}. I hope that you find a way to continue offering your class so that others may learn. Look forward to seeing you in Lincoln. Drive safe!"

"I enjoyed your forecasting class in Denver and just wish it would have lasted longer. I'm more interested in the forecasting skills than the actual sighting of a tornado."