Keep Watching the Sky

As a terrified child growing up in a tornado-prone region, I was given many pieces of advice about how to tell when a tornado was coming. Greenish sky? Tornado. Jet contrails? Put two of them together and get a tornado. Sudden drop in temperature? Tornado. There were dozens of signs...

By Patrick Williams

February 13, 2014

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As a terrified child growing up in a tornado-prone region, I was given many pieces of advice about how to tell when a tornado was coming. Greenish sky? Tornado. Jet contrails? Put two of them together and get a tornado. Sudden drop in temperature? Tornado. There were dozens of signs. The upside of receiving all this bad information is that I grew healthy from running home in terror every time it clouded up. The downside is that I still have tornado nightmares, often featuring me undressed and my mother yelling at me. The folks at the Fort Worth National Weather Service might not be able to help with any unresolved mommy issues, but they’re ready to offer sound tips on storm spotting. From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Garland’s Granville Arts Center (300 N. Fifth St.), weather experts will talk about the ins and outs of storm spotting and how you can become a volunteer spotter in the NWS’ SKYWARN system. The meeting is free and open to the public, so feel free to bring your mom … if you dare.
Sat., Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 2014

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Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams