The National Weather Service needs you.

Even the delayed spring of the North Woods still has the potential for severe thunderstorms, heavy rains and other hazards going into summer. For evidence, ask Houghton and Keweenaw area residents about last Father’s Day.

So in late April and into May, the NWS office in Marquette regularly schedules spring weather presentations across the U.P. to educate residents about hazards in the region — and perhaps encourage some to act as spotters, keeping an eye on the skies.

Routine reports during active weather are critical to the NWS trying to protect life and property. These presentations are free and open to the public, with no advance registration required.

This year’s NWS presentation will last about 1 1/2 hours. Some of the topics to be covered include: the public’s role in building a Weather-Ready Nation; social media’s role in weather reporting; a recap of last year’s storms, including the historic Fathers Day flooding in the Keweenaw; basic radar; cloud interpretation; and weather safety and preparedness.

In the region, these presentations will be — in Dickinson County, 6:30 p.m. Central time May 6 in room 231 at Bay College West in Iron Mountain; and in Menominee County, 6 p.m. Central time May 13 in the Menominee County Annex Building Stephenson Annex in Stephenson.

A calendar of other scheduled talks can be found on the NWS Marquette website at www.weather.gov/mqt. Additional information also is available by calling the National Weather Service office at 906-475-5212.