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SHyMet: Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting Course

The Severe Thunderstorm Forecasting and Warning Decision track of the Satellite Hydrology and Meteorology (SHyMet) Course covers satellite imagery and products useful in the operational forecasting and warning decision making process for severe thunderstorms.  The course was updated in 2020 and now contains GOES-16/17 imagery and products.  The course includes techniques for integrating GOES imagery with other datasets in analyzing the pre-storm environment, and the changing near-storm environment during the nowcasting to warning decision making time period.  There is also a focus on signatures observed in satellite imagery that may indicate that a storm is severe.  There is a session on the latest version of the NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere product which is a tool that combines multiple datasets into one product and is useful in the nowcast to warning decision making time period.  Finally, non-supercell tornadoes present a unique challenge and a session addresses the potential utility of total lightning from the GOES GLM.  This course is administered through web-based instruction and consists of 8 training modules with a total run time of approximately 150 minutes, therefore expected completion time to go through the videos and take each quiz will take you roughly twice that amount of time, or about 5 hours.

If you have NOT taken the Satellite Foundational Course for GOES-R, it is recommended that you take the following modules (also all with GOES-R imagery) from the Mesoscale Features Part 1 section of that course, which includes the following lessons:

NOAA employees may register for this course on the NOAA Commerce Learning Center.

Non-NOAA employees may register by sending an email to:  nws.oaa.clo.shymet AT noaa.gov
In the email, be sure to include your name.  We will reply to you with setup instructions for this course.

Training Modules


Title Topic Instructor Developed Updated Length (min) WMO Sat Skill(s)
Integrating GOES Into Mesoanalysis Severe/Sat

Dan Bikos, Ed Szoke

2019

25 Min

2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.7, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 7.1-5

Storm Signatures Observed in Satellite Imagery Severe/Sat

Dan Bikos, Ed Szoke

2020

15 Min

2.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4

Tracking the Elevated Mixed Layer with a new GOES-R Water Vapor Band Severe Course

Dan Bikos

2015

2019

20 Min

3.2.3, 3.3.2, 5.1.5, 7.1-5

Above Anvil Cirrus Plumes Severe/Sat

Scott Lindstorm

2020

2024

30Min

Severe Weather Applications of the GOES Split Window Difference Product Severe/Sat

Dan Bikos, Ed Szoke

2019

2019

20 Min

2.2, 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 7.1-5

Mesoscale Convective Vortices Severe/Sat

Scott Lindstrom, Scott Bachmeier

2004

2022

15 Min

NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere Product Severe/Sat

Scott Lindstrom

2014

2019

45 Min

Can total lightning help with warnings for non-supercell tornadoes? Severe Course

Ed Szoke, Dan Bikos

2015

2019

40 Min

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