***Official 2024 Weather Thread***

Much better to have a few false alarms than to have people die because they didn't get notice.

Also got to remember that not everyone’s situation is the same. Some people hear the sirens and have to go to their basement. Some people have to go down the street or further to find shelter (think trailer parks). So while those with easy access to safe spaces may think these watches and warnings are overkill, it is not that way for everyone.
 
The storm lover in me hates when these bust, but the homeowner in me loves it.
Made me think of the shredded wheat commercials!!
It’s been going on 10-15 years it seems. Most people I know don’t even heed it unless there’s a funnel on the ground. It has completely diluted the distinction IMO.

I get wanting to inform people of the potential, but I feel like Tornado Watch and Severe Thunderstorm warnings cover that.
Counter point: NWS issues tornado warnings and makes no notes if it is radar indicated or confirmed on the ground. Majority of warnings issued are for radar indicated. Public eventually would not take a tornado warning seriously since they would just think “they issue these warnings all the time and nothing happens.” But a tornado is confirmed to be on the ground. People didn’t take the warning seriously because they just assumed it was another “false” warning
 
Watching the tv meteorologists reporting on tornado "warnings " knowing full well that there weren't any actual tornadoes was kind of an interesting tap dance.

Brainless take. Radar is a valuable tool for issuing warnings and there well can be a tornado from them, just isn't visually confirmed. Relying solely on spotters and public reports to issue is ******* stupid. Tornadoes can be rain wrapped, occur over sparsely populated areas, broken terrain, or you know, occur at night all of which make getting visual reports difficult.
 
Made me think of the shredded wheat commercials!!

Counter point: NWS issues tornado warnings and makes no notes if it is radar indicated or confirmed on the ground. Majority of warnings issued are for radar indicated. Public eventually would not take a tornado warning seriously since they would just think “they issue these warnings all the time and nothing happens.” But a tornado is confirmed to be on the ground. People didn’t take the warning seriously because they just assumed it was another “false” warning
That’s what’s happening now I believe. Warnings should be limited to on-ground tornadoes. Or just make an up front distinction somehow
 
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Read the Joplin after-action sometime. 150+ deaths, a significant number of them from survivor accounts and other evidence died on their way to shelter because, despite the warnings, they didn't act until they personally perceived physical danger.

Waiting until it is on the ground or chewing up stuff (or waiting until you see it up the street) is wasting a lot of critical time.

Plus, not every tornado touches down in the middle of nowhere first. If you have to ignore the radar indicated rotation over a city and wait for it to reach the ground first...
"We had no warning. Came out of nowhere."
I’m just saying there should be a clear and known distinction for actual tornadoes vs radar indicated
 
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I’m just saying there should be a clear and known distinction for actual tornadoes vs radar indicated

There is. Pink filled in box vs red box. This whole discussion is ridiculous because tornadoes happen at night and can be impossible to see.

“No one sees it so it’s not there” is some pretty flat earth level of thinking.
 
Radar was glitching showing how long before storms to my sw get here. Seemed to be skipping. Read a warning. Moving at 70mph. Oh.No glitch.
 
I’m just saying there should be a clear and known distinction for actual tornadoes vs radar indicated
Go read SPC reports after the fact if that's what you care about. Telling people there's a tornado when it's already hitting them isn't exactly helpful. Folks in this thread are trying to set tornado warnings back by 40 years.