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When I was a kid, a "Tornado Warning" meant that a tornado had been spotted and was something you took pretty seriously. There was another advisory called a "To

When I was a kid, a "Tornado Warning" meant that a tornado had been spotted and was something you took pretty seriously. There was another advisory called a "Tornado Watch" that meant conditions were favorable for tornados to develop. Now, it seems that every semi-heavy thunderstorm comes with a "Tornado Warning" based on radar returns and other metrics. They happen so often it's hard to get too worked up about them. Another case of boy who cried wolf.

dredmorbius 5y ago
Your understanding is incorrect. A WARNING means a funnel has been sighted or detected (e.g., by weather radar). A WATCH means tornadic conditions are highly favourable. From NOAA: What is the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING? A Tornado WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather conditions that are favorable for tornadoes and severe weather. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued. A Tornado WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 over a designated area. This means a tornado has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar and there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the tornado. A tornado warning indicates that you should ACT NOW to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ It's quite likely that either detection (and so sightings) has improved, or that tornados are now more prevalent in actuality. There's good evidence for both.
- heartbreak 5y ago
  Edited for clarity: A WARNING means a funnel has been sighted or detected (e.g., by weather radar). A WATCH means tornadic conditions are highly favourable.
  - dredmorbius 5y ago
    Gah! Thanks. Fortunately, inside the edit window for once, I've updated my comment. (Original repeated "warning" for both definitions in the part I'd written out rather than copied from NOAA.)

dredmorbius 5y ago

Your understanding is incorrect. A WARNING means a funnel has been sighted or detected (e.g., by weather radar). A WATCH means tornadic conditions are highly favourable. From NOAA: What is the difference between a Tornado WATCH and a Tornado WARNING? A Tornado WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather conditions that are favorable for tornadoes and severe weather. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states. Watch and prepare for severe weather and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio to know when warnings are issued. A Tornado WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch the weather 24/7 over a designated area. This means a tornado has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar and there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the tornado. A tornado warning indicates that you should ACT NOW to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/ It's quite likely that either detection (and so sightings) has improved, or that tornados are now more prevalent in actuality. There's good evidence for both.

heartbreak 5y ago
Edited for clarity: A WARNING means a funnel has been sighted or detected (e.g., by weather radar). A WATCH means tornadic conditions are highly favourable.
- dredmorbius 5y ago
  Gah! Thanks. Fortunately, inside the edit window for once, I've updated my comment. (Original repeated "warning" for both definitions in the part I'd written out rather than copied from NOAA.)