Tornado Safety Page 2
Currently, there are two stages of alert in place:
- A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado.
- A tornado warning means that a tornadic event has been detected, either by radar or by trained storm spotters on the ground relaying information to the National Weather Service based on actual conditions.
The National Weather Service is cautious about issuing tornado watches, as false alarms tend to make people hold such watches with little regard. Most people in a "watch box" may not even get a storm, let alone a tornado. If this happens enough times, folks get slack with their precautions. And of course, once a warning is issued, those in the path of the storm have very little time to react.
In this country, it is not unusual for people to know which football team is playing on any given day and where, which movie stars are getting divorced, when their favorite shows are on, what is happening on their favorite soap opera... but ask most people "what's happening in the atmosphere today?" and you will most assuredly be greeted by incredulous stares and hidden smiles and giggles. However, the atmosphere surrounds us all and affects us all. It?s there every day, in a state of constant flux, providing us with the air we breathe, safe sunlight to play in, and the rain that feeds our crops and our streams and lakes. It is capable of bringing life; it is capable of taking life, and it is deserving of more respect than it gets.
Even those not living in areas where severe weather is commonplace should be aware of possible weather events on any given day. Know the potential for severe weather. The first step to disaster preparedness is knowing what the potential is for it.
A quick glance at The Weather Channel lets this MESO member know that though she may be under fair skies, folks at home are at high risk. A phone call home alerts her family to the potential for severe weather.
Knowing that there is even a remote possibility that your town may one day be hit by a tornado predicates the need of knowing what to do if such an event were to occur. Most people have little interest in learning meteorology or forecasting, choosing to leave that to the weather experts. Be aware of what they are saying the potential is for severe weather. Be aware of your local warning systems.
Also, a NOAA weather radio is an easily affordable and easily acquired appliance that emits a warning tone when watches and warnings are issued for your area. Most have a battery backup so that when the electricity goes off, as it often does in severe weather, the warnings can still be heard.
Awareness of the events that may indicate a severe storm or tornado is also of critical importance. Though dark clouds, rotating or converging clouds, clouds with a greenish tint, high winds, hail, and frequent lightning are relatively overwhelming indicators that a severe thunderstorm is imminent, not all of these conditions have to be present for a tornado to occur. Any single factor should be considered as a possible harbinger of a tornadic event, and a combination of all those factors doesn't necessarily bring a tornado. They should, however, put one in a heightened state of alert.