Are "Tornado Warnings" overused?

[gopper]

I am sure this topic has been discussed a lot over the years, but I guess I am too lazy or unskilled to find out where.  However, my son and I were discussing the whole premise behind issued "Tornado Warnings".  My old fogey feelings are that the "tornado warning" label issued by LWX, at least in the Mid Atlantic area gets way overused based on the actual number of genuine tornadoes that are produced and touch the ground. I don't have the actual percentages for how many times a "Tornado Warning" actually produces a genuine twister that hit the ground, but my gut says the percentage would be rather low.

On the other hand, my son feels it is completely a good idea to put out "Tornado Warning" whenever a cell shows the the earmarks on radar, wind direction, hook indication, etc...He takes the side of it is for the safety of the people and if they are warned, then they can prepare.  My son also has a better appreciation of all of the technical tools that are utilized in making the decision to warn a storm, than I do. I totally get that as well.

I just feel like the number of times I have run into the basement over the years to flee a "tornado warned storm" to end up with nothing more than a gusty storm and rain is overkill.  In fact none of the tornado warned cells has ever produced a tornado where I live.  The only time I remember going into the basement for the power of a storm that was indeed a worthwhile decision was for the derecho. And I believe they were straight line down draft winds and not tornados.   But the sound of branches and limbs falling was enough for me to round up the family to go to the basement.

So, am I an old fogey who wants to have visuals of a sighted tornado to flee to the basement?  Or should I go with my son, trust the technologies and respond appropriately every time a tornado warning is issued for my area.  Are they issued too frequently?  and if so, why?  what specific parameters are being used to make the go ahead in warning a storm?

I am curious how many of you feel we get too many issued tornado warnings for the amount of actual tornados that touch down?  Thanks for sharing your thoughts, opinions, and rationales.  Maybe I can be persuaded to think differently.

Gopper

Towson

 

[NorthArlington101]

I strongly feel this way about Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, which I am not convinced anyone takes seriously at this point.

Tornado Warnings… imo technology has advanced to where we can be fairly confident based on radar that a tornado is occurring or imminently possible. As long as folks still take those warnings seriously, and I think they do, I don’t have issues with their pace. I do think it’s somewhat fair to say that tornado warnings the way you’d prefer them have been somewhat replaced by PDS warnings, at least in populated areas, which I’m not sure is good comms strategy. I don’t think most normal folks recognize the difference between a warning, PDS warnings, and emergency.

[Rhino16]

24 minutes ago, gopper said:

So, am I an old fogey who wants to have visuals of a sighted tornado to flee to the basement?

It can be impossible to see tornadoes when they are rain wrapped during the day, and it’s especially hard at night. We don’t have a ton of storm chasers constantly out watching around here with trees and terrain. If the rule were to wait for the radar to show it’s picking up debris, then it’s already doing damage and by the time the radar has actually scanned it, and the warning is issued, someone may have had no warning and potentially has been injured or worse. I don’t see why it’s an issue to go to safety and come back uninjured and resume life as normal. I also don’t know what technology we have if any currently that can change the need for caution besides maybe radar improvements which I hope are coming like phased array.

[LordBaltimore]

I think the benefit of the current system is it gives local emergency services a chance to prepare for a likely event before its on the ground confirmed. The only way you would ever get the majority if the general population to pay attention to a tornado warning here is with old school air raid sirens, which might actually not be a bad idea for a spotted tornado