***Official 2024 Weather Thread***

Just checked my rain gadge. I got exactly 1 inch in Ankeny so far. Hoping for more tonight, but not looking promising.
 
Speaking of which … not only am I in a freshly issued tornado watch area (along with the Cedar Rapids NWS radio station being off the air :rolleyes:), I’m planning on tacos tonight.

Assuming my home isn’t swept away by Tornadogeddon Lollapalooza 24, of course.


They’ve started issue warnings when there aren’t actually tornados
 
This isn't anything new. And ideally you'd want to send warning before a tornado actually forms to alert peopleof impending danger. But yes, many times nothing happens. It is what it is with the technology/spotters available.
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.
 
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.
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."
 
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."

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

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