Tornado Tip Sheet

The first tornado forecast issued by two Air Force Officers at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., on March 25, 1948, was the first step in establishing the National Weather Service's organized watch and warning program that blankets and protects the nation today. Now 50 years later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tinker Air Force Base, and the University of Oklahoma are celebration this historic forecast. Following are some tornado-related story ideas that you may want to develop as weather and science-related features commemorating this milestone.

50 YEARS OF PROGRESS

Since that first tornado forecast issued 50 years ago on March 25, 1948, the science community has made significant progress to improve the watch and warning lead times. Because of investments in research, observing systems such as the Doppler radar and interactive computer systems, and forecasting technology, the lead time for tornadoes has nearly doubled from a national average of 5 minutes in the early 1990s to nearly 10 minutes today. This extra time allows those in the path of danger to take steps to protect themselves and their families from these powerful storms. What technologies does the National Weather Service have in place today? How are tornadoes forecast? What research projects are underway to continue these scientific improvements?

WHY DO SCIENTISTS TRY TO INTERCEPT TORNADOES?

Scientists chase and "intercept" tornadoes to measure them close up to learn more about them. The goal is to improve forecasts and warnings. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and university scientists have conducted a series of scientific intercepts of tornadic storms that should revolutionize our understanding of tornadoes and dramatically improve tornado forecasts and warnings.

BETTER TORNADO WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

The NWS has completed a nationwide blanket of overlapping Doppler weather radars that can actually see inside of storms and give forecasters new capabilities for making timely, geographically-specific warnings of approaching tornadoes. Since the introduction of these new radars, average warning lead times for tornadoes are longer, and forecasters are learning more about spotting potential locations for tornadoes.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET TORNADO WARNINGS WHEN THEY ARE SLEEPING OR NOT WATCHING TV OR LISTENING TO THEIR RADIOS?

The high-band FM frequencies commonly referred to as the "weather band" carry NOAA Weather Radio broadcast from National Weather Service Forecast offices. Special NOAA Weather Radio receivers, available at most electronics stores for about the cost of a pair of shoes, can be set to turn on only if a severe weather warning is sent out from an NWS office. A special frequency tone is picked up by the radio, the tone turns the radio on and sounds a brief alarm, followed by the warning information. NOAA Weather Radios are becoming standard equipment in more and more schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches and synagogues and other public gathering places in tornado alley and throughout the country. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr

HOW DO STORM SPOTTERS HELP?

National Weather Service forecast offices across the country use Doppler radar and satellite pictures as the primary tools to detect severe weather.  However, one of the most important tool for observing thunderstorms and tornadoes is the trained eye of the storm spotter.  Trained spotters perform an invaluable service for the NWS.  Their real-time observations of tornadoes, hail, wind, and significant cloud formations provide a truly reliable information base for severe weather detection and verification.  By providing observations, spotters assist the meteorologists at local offices in their warning decisions, and enabling the NWS to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property.

NOAA Weather Radio
Storm Prediction Center
National Severe Storms Laboratory
Return to the Main Page

Publication of the NOAA Homepage Design and Construction Company