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{{short description|Severe weather statement indicating an observed violent tornado in the warned area}}
[[Image:Binger Oklahoma Tornado.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Large tornadoes can cause catastrophic damage when striking populated areas.]]A '''tornado emergency''' is issued by the [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) when a large, violent [[tornado]] is expected to impact a populated area. The term was first used during the [[May 3]], [[1999]] tornado outbreak that spawned the [[1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak#The_Moore_F5|Moore F5]] tornado just south of [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]. A Tornado Emergency is simply enhanced wording added (at the discretion of the forecasters working the event, or according to policy of the local National Weather Service office) to a standard [[tornado warning]], mainly a headline containing the phrase "Tornado Emergency for..." and specific information about areas in the path. Since information about the tornado and its exact path are often ascertained after the initial tornado warning is issued, this designation is usually added to the Severe Weather Statement (SWS) that is used to follow-up a tornado warning.
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Original research|date=December 2019}}
[[File:Alexander City Tornado Emergency in 2023.jpg|thumb|A tornado emergency issued for the 2023 Alexander City tornado.]]
A '''tornado emergency''' is an enhanced version of a [[tornado warning]], which is used by the [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) in the [[United States]] during imminent, significant [[tornado]] occurrences in highly populated areas. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issued instead within a severe weather statement or in the initial tornado warning, a tornado emergency generally means that significant, widespread damage is expected to occur and a high likelihood of numerous fatalities is expected with a large, strong to violent tornado.<ref name="LZK article">{{cite web|title=Tornado Emergency Media Advisory|publisher=NWS-[[Little Rock, Arkansas]]|url=https://www.weather.gov/lzk/toremer0514.htm|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326144039/https://www.weather.gov/lzk/toremer0514.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado Emergency NWS Definition|publisher=NWS|url=https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=tornado+emergency|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028015531/https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=tornado+emergency|url-status=live}}</ref>


These enhanced warnings are intended to convey the urgency of the weather situation to the general public, who are advised to take safety precautions immediately if they are in or near the projected path of a large tornado or its accompanying thunderstorm; tornado emergencies are usually identified following the preceding storm summary in the tornado warning product, which itself will denote visual or radar confirmation of "a large and extremely dangerous [or destructive] tornado" that is ongoing; precautionary action statements in the product also recommend that people in the storm's path find shelter in an underground shelter or [[safe room]] to protect themselves from the storm, if available.
==History==


While many tornadoes observed to be at or larger than ¼-mile in width have been documented to have produced catastrophic damage falling under the "strong" or "violent" categories (EF2–EF5) of the [[Enhanced Fujita Scale]], there have been instances in which tornadoes of this intensity have resulted in very few to no fatalities and, occasionally, have produced damage corresponding to the Enhanced Fujita Scale's "weak" category (EF0–EF1).
Between 530 p.m. and 630 p.m. on [[May 3]], [[1999]], David Andra, the Science and Operations Officer at the [[National Weather Service]] Norman office watched as the most powerful tornado ever recorded by radar, with winds of 301 <sup>+</sup>/- 20 miles per hour, approached Oklahoma City. This led to the issuance of the first tornado emergency.<ref>{{cite web | title = TORNADO EMERGENCY IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA | publisher = NWS - [[Norman, Oklahoma]] | date = [[May 3]], [[1999]] | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/svsokc.txt | accessdate = 2007-08-13 }}</ref> <blockquote>''"As the large tornado approached western sections of the OKC metro area, we asked ourselves more than once, 'Are we doing all we can do to provide the best warnings and information?'" It became apparent that unique and eye-catching phrases needed to be included in the products. "At one point we used the phrase 'Tornado Emergency' to paint the picture that a rare and deadly tornado was imminent in the metro area. We hoped that such dire phrases would prompt action from anyone that still had any questions about what was about to happen.<ref>{{cite journal | title = The Southern Plains Cyclone | journal = Spring 2007 | volume = 2 | issue = 2 | publisher = National Weather Service | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/newsletter/spring2004 | accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref>"''</blockquote>


The usage of tornado emergencies to alert major population centers to the imminent threat of a catastrophic tornado impact has also led to the development of the [[flash flood warning#flash flood alerts|flash flood emergency]] which is similarly employed when severe [[flash flood]]s threaten populated areas.
===Example===

== History ==
{{For|a chronological history of tornado emergencies issued by the National Weather Service|List of United States tornado emergencies}}

=== First use ===
The term was first used during the [[1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak|May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak]] that spawned [[1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado|an F5 tornado]] which struck the municipalities of [[Bridge Creek, Oklahoma|Bridge Creek]] and [[Moore, Oklahoma|Moore]], located just south of [[Oklahoma City]], followed by southern and eastern parts of the city itself, [[Del City, Oklahoma|Del City]], and [[Midwest City, Oklahoma|Midwest City]]. On that day, between 5:30 and 6:30&nbsp;p.m., David Andra, the Science and Operations Officer at the [[National Weather Service]] [[National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma|Weather Forecast Office]] in [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]] watched as the large, destructive tornado approached Oklahoma City. This led to the issuance of the first tornado emergency, which in this instance was released as a standalone weather statement issued separately from the original tornado warning.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado emergency in south oklahoma city metro area |publisher=NWS - [[Norman, Oklahoma]] |date=May 3, 1999 |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/svsokc.txt |access-date=August 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213230526/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/svsokc.txt |archive-date=February 13, 2008 }}</ref> <blockquote>As the large tornado approached western sections of the OKC metro area, we asked ourselves more than once, 'Are we doing all we can do to provide the best warnings and information?' It became apparent that unique and eye-catching phrases needed to be included in the products. At one point we used the phrase 'Tornado Emergency' to paint the picture that a rare and deadly tornado was imminent in the metro area. We hoped that such dire phrases would prompt action from anyone that still had any questions about what was about to happen.<ref>{{cite journal | title = May 3rd, 1999 from the NWS's Perspective | journal = The Southern Plains Cyclone |date=Spring 2004 | volume = 2 | issue = 2 | publisher = National Weather Service | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/newsletter/spring2004 | access-date = 2008-02-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041108065124/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/newsletter/spring2004/#19990503 | archive-date = 2004-11-08}}</ref></blockquote>

Below is the text of the first-ever Tornado Emergency:

<pre>WWUS34 KOKC 040004
SVSOKC
OKZ025-027>029-040030-


<pre>
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
657 PM CDT MON MAY 3 1999
657 PM CDT MON MAY 3 1999


...TORNADO EMERGENCY IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA...
…TORNADO EMERGENCY IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA…


AT 657 PM CDT...A LARGE TORNADO WAS MOVING ALONG INTERSTATE 44 WEST OF
AT 657 PM CDT…A LARGE TORNADO WAS MOVING ALONG INTERSTATE 44 WEST
NEWCASTLE. ON ITS PRESENT PATH...THIS LARGE DAMAGING TORNADO WILL
OF NEWCASTLE. ON ITS PRESENT PATH…THIS LARGE DAMAGING TORNADO
ENTER SOUTHWEST SECTIONS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA BETWEEN 715 PM
WILL ENTER SOUTHWEST SECTIONS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA
AND 730 PM. PERSONS IN MOORE AND SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY SHOULD TAKE
BETWEEN 715 PM AND 730 PM. PERSONS IN MOORE AND SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS!
SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS!


THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IF YOU
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IF
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO...TAKE COVER
YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO…TAKE
IMMEDIATELY.
COVER IMMEDIATELY.


DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN DESTRUCTIVE HAIL TO THE
DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN DESTRUCTIVE HAIL TO
SIZE OF BASEBALLS...OR LARGER.
THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS…OR LARGER.</pre>
</pre>


===Standardization and recent usage===
==Tornado emergencies issued==
{{Listen
Since its first use in 1999, the Tornado Emergency text has been used in at least 70 bulletins, sometimes on multiple occasions on the same day. For instance, during the [[2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak]], tornado emergencies were mentioned in twelve separate bulletins in [[Tennessee]] and [[Alabama]].
|filename = Tornado Emergency Alabama.ogg
|title = Tornado Emergency Alabama
|description = An audio example of a tornado emergency issued for [[Sumiton, Alabama]], in 2010.
}}
After the original usage for the May 3, 1999, F5 tornado, the term Tornado Emergency was used by other National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), although no uniform criteria existed and the issuance was entirely at the discretion of the forecaster issuing the warnings. Usage of the term varied from simply confirmed tornadoes in populated areas to significant, rare tornadoes causing severe damage and injuries. Some NWS forecast offices, such as the one serving the [[Des Moines, Iowa]], metropolitan area, have created standardized criteria and purpose for the usages of the heightened wording. Because data about the tornado and its exact path are often ascertained after the initial tornado warning is issued, this designation is usually added to the Severe Weather Statement ([[Specific Area Message Encoding|SAME]] code: SVS) that is used to follow up a tornado warning.
[[File:4 May 2007 Tornado Emergency for Greensburg, KS.mp3|left|thumb|The tornado emergency that was issued for areas including Greensburg, prior to the [[2007 Greensburg tornado]] striking the town.]]


The prolific [[2011 Super Outbreak]] set the all-time record for the most tornado emergencies issued by the National Weather Service during a 24-hour period. During the afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011, which saw a record-breaking 216 tornadoes reported across the southeastern U.S., local NWS offices in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] and [[Huntsville, Alabama]], [[Memphis, Tennessee]], and [[Jackson, Mississippi]], issued a combined total of 16 tornado emergencies during the regional outbreak for multiple long-track tornadoes; among others, the emergency declarations covered the [[2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado|EF4 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama tornado]], and the EF5-rated [[2011 Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado|Philadelphia]] and [[2011 Smithville tornado|Smithville, Mississippi]], and [[2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado|Hackleburg–Phil Campbell]] and [[2011 Rainsville tornado|Rainsville, Alabama]], tornadoes. (The previous single-day record, 11, was set on May 7, 2003, during an outbreak of 18 tornadoes—among 30 reported that day across the central and southern United States that occurred as part of a [[Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2003|broader nine-day outbreak sequence]]—that struck much of the same region affected by the 2011 outbreak.)
{{incomplete-list}}
===1999===
{{main article|1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak}}
* [[May 3]], [[1999]]: [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]


On April 2, 2012, the National Weather Service began an experimental program within its [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]], [[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]], [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] and [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]/[[Pleasant Hill, Missouri|Pleasant Hill]] offices in Kansas and Missouri called Impact Based Warning (IBW), which allows the respective offices to enhance warning information, such as adding tags to the warning messages which signify the potential damage severity. In regards to tornadoes, the creation of this multi-tiered system resulted in the implementation of an intermediate tornado warning product, a [[Particularly Dangerous Situation#PDS tornado warning|Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Warning]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/crh/IBW/Resources/IBW1pager.pdf |title=Impact Based Warning Experimental Product |access-date=April 4, 2012 |publisher=National Weather Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116133101/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/crh/IBW/Resources/IBW1pager.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Draper |title='UNSURVIVABLE!' New Tornado Warnings Aim to Scare |url=https://news.yahoo.com/unsurvivable-tornado-warnings-aim-scare-212727744.html |work=[[Yahoo! News]] and the [[Associated Press]] |date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403230824/http://news.yahoo.com/unsurvivable-tornado-warnings-aim-scare-212727744.html? |url-status=live }}</ref>
===2000===
* [[March 28]], [[2000]]: [[Fort Worth, Texas]]<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/public/read/geo/14
|title=[[National Weather Service]] warning |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
{{main article|Fort Worth Tornado}}
* [[June 13]], [[2000]]: [[Perryton, Texas]]<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.wdtb.noaa.gov/workshop/wdm/originals/WDMIII.ppt |title=[[National Weather Service]] warning decision making workshop powerpoint presentation |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>


On April 1, 2013, the IBW experiment expanded to include all National Weather Service WFOs within the Central Region;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/?n=2013_ibw_info |title=Impact Based Warning Experimental Product |publisher=Crh.noaa.gov |access-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116133104/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/?n=2013_ibw_info |url-status=live }}</ref> the IBW experiment was expanded again to include eight additional offices within the Eastern, Southern and Western Regions in the spring of 2014.<ref name=IBW>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/impacts/|title=Impact Based Warnings|author=National Weather Service|author-link=National Weather Service|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=March 12, 2014|date=2014|archive-date=March 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001249/http://www.weather.gov/impacts/|url-status=live}}</ref> Within the span of eleven days, the National Weather Service WFO in Norman issued tornado emergencies for parts of the [[Oklahoma City metropolitan area]] and [[central Oklahoma]]: first on May 20, 2013, for the [[2013 Moore tornado|EF5 tornado that struck Moore]] and portions of southern Oklahoma City,<ref>{{cite web |last=Howell |first=George |url=http://www.kcci.com/news/national/tornado-touches-down-in-oklahoma-city-area/-/9357144/20214732/-/i8erd/-/index.html |title=Okla. Medical Examiner preparing for '40 more bodies' &#124; National News - KCCI Home |publisher=Kcci.com |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=January 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116073157/http://www.kcci.com/news/national/tornado-touches-down-in-oklahoma-city-area/-/9357144/20214732/-/i8erd/-/index.html |archive-date=January 16, 2014 }}</ref> and again on May 31, for portions of eastern [[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian County]] and western sections of the immediate Oklahoma City area for [[2013 El Reno tornado|another tornado]].
===2002===
{{main article|Veterans Day Weekend Outbreak}}
* [[September 20]], [[2002]]: [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] area <ref> {{cite web |url= http://puma.purdue.org/pastevents/sep202002/intornadoes.html |title=[[Indiana]] tornadoes of [[September 20]], [[2002]] |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
* [[November 10]], [[2002]]: [[Cullman County, Alabama]]<ref>[http://www.bamaweather.com/storm/111002-saragossa-goodhope.html Bamaweather.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In 2016, Impact-Based Tornado Warnings were implemented nationwide and all offices began standardized training and practice for tornado emergencies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Impact-Based Warning Content|url=https://training.weather.gov/wdtd/courses/rac/warnings/IBW-content/story.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=training.weather.gov|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519171049/https://training.weather.gov/wdtd/courses/rac/warnings/IBW-content/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> National directive allows for the use of tornado emergency products when a severe threat to human life exists and catastrophic damage is imminent or occurring.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Schoor|first=Greg|date=2021|title=NWS Directive 10-511|url=https://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01005011curr.pdf|access-date=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511205250/https://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01005011curr.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
===2003===
{{main article|May 2003 tornado outbreak sequence}}
* [[May 4]], [[2003]]: Northern Kansas City metro area<ref>[http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/record-may.pdf], pg 14</ref>
* [[May 6]], [[2003]]: Northern [[Alabama]] <ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.bamaweather.com/storm/stmts050603.txt |title=[[May 6]], [[2003]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive for [[Alabama]] |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (six bulletins)
* [[May 7]], [[2003]]: Central [[Alabama]] <ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.bamaweather.com/storm/stmts050703.txt |title=[[May 7]], [[2003]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive for [[Alabama]] |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (ten bulletins)
* [[May 8]], [[2003]]: Southeastern Oklahoma City metro area<ref>{{cite web | title = Text Products Issued on [[May 8]], [[2003]] | publisher = National Weather Service, [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]] | date = [[May 8]], [[2003]] | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/20030508/products.php | accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> (four bulletins)
* [[May 9]], [[2003]]: Oklahoma City metro area<ref>{{cite web | title = Text Products Issued on [[May 9]], [[2003]] | publisher = National Weather Service, Norman | date = [[May 9]], [[2003]] | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/20030509/products.php | accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> (nine bulletins)


A tornado emergency was issued in the late-night hours of [[Memorial Day]] on [[Tornado outbreak sequence of May 2019|May 27, 2019]] for Montgomery County, Ohio, including the cities of [[Dayton, Ohio]], and [[Trotwood, Ohio]]. The tornado was rated EF4.
===2006===
* [[March 12]], [[2006]]: Western and southwestern [[Missouri]] (seven bulletins)<ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2006/03/12/text/Severe/Severe_12.txt |title=[[March 12]], [[2006]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2006/03/13/text/Severe/Severe_13.txt |title=[[March 13]], [[2006]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
{{main article|April 2, 2006 Tornado Outbreak}}
* [[April 2]], [[2006]]: [[Caruthersville, Missouri]] area <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2006/04/03/text/Severe/Severe_03.txt |title=[[April 3]], [[2006]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
* [[April 7]], [[2006]]: [[Huntsville, Alabama]] area (three bulletins) <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2006/04/08/text/Severe/Severe_08.txt |title=[[April 8]], [[2006]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>


A tornado emergency was issued in the night hours of May 2, 2021, in [[Tupelo, Mississippi]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Duff|first=Renee|date=May 2, 2021|title=Tupelo, Mississippi, takes direct hit from large nighttime tornado|work=[[AccuWeather]]|url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/tupelo-mississippi-takes-direct-hit-from-large-nighttime-tornado/941390|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503102711/https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/tupelo-mississippi-takes-direct-hit-from-large-nighttime-tornado/941390|url-status=live}}</ref> It was part of [[Tornado outbreak of May 2–3, 2021|a larger outbreak]] that spawned another dangerous tornado near [[Yazoo City, Mississippi]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-02|title=Several observed tornadoes in Mississippi Sunday evening|url=https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/three-confirmed-tornado-in-mississippi/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=WJTV|language=en-US|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503193946/https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/three-confirmed-tornado-in-mississippi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===2007===
[[Image:Greensburg3 small.gif|thumb|right|A doppler radar image of the Greensburg, Kansas tornado that prompted a tornado emergency]]
{{main article|May 2007 Tornado Outbreak}}
* [[May 4]], [[2007]]: [[Greensburg, Kansas]]<ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2007/05/05/text/Severe/Severe_05.txt |title=[[May 5]], [[2007]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
* [[May 5]], [[2007]]: [[Great Bend, Kansas]]<ref>{{cite web | last = Murray | first = Bill | title = Tornado Emergency Great Bend, Kansas | publisher = National Weather Service, [[Wichita, Kansas]] | date = [[May 5]], [[2007]] | url = http://www.jamesspann.com/wordpress/?p=1630 | accessdate = 2008-02-15}}</ref> <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2007/05/06/text/Severe/Severe_06.txt |title=[[May 6]], [[2007]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Greensburg Tornado Radar.gif|thumb|right|225px|A radar image of the Greensburg, Kansas tornado that prompted a tornado emergency]] -->
{{main article|Mid-October 2007 tornado outbreak}}
* [[October 18]], [[2007]]: [[Nappanee, Indiana]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2007/10/19/text/Severe/Severe_19.txt |title=[[October 19]], [[2007]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (three bulletins)


The first tornado emergency ever issued in the [[Northeastern United States]] was issued by the National Weather Service in [[Mount Holly, New Jersey]], on September 1, 2021, at 7:04&nbsp;pm for [[Bristol, Pennsylvania|Bristol]], [[Croydon, Pennsylvania|Croydon]] and [[Burlington, New Jersey|Burlington]] when a confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed over [[Beverly, New Jersey|Beverly]] heading towards the highly populated areas of [[Levittown, Pennsylvania|Levittown]], [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]], and [[Hamilton Square, New Jersey|Hamilton Square]]. The alert for areas in [[Pennsylvania]] and [[New Jersey]] occurred as the remnants of [[Hurricane Ida]] passed through the region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 [KPHI] MOUNT_HOLLY Tornado (TO) Warning (W) Number 49|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2021-O-NEW-KPHI-TO-W-0049/USCOMP-N0Q-202109012300|author=|website=Iowa Environmental Mesonet|publisher=NWS Mount Holly|date=September 1, 2021|accessdate=September 6, 2021|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901234400/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2021-O-NEW-KPHI-TO-W-0049/USCOMP-N0Q-202109012300|url-status=live}}</ref> The tornado was rated&nbsp;EF1.<ref name="PHI0109">{{cite report|url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSPHI&e=202109032300|title=September 1 2021 Tornadoes|date=September 3, 2021|publisher=Iowa Environmental Mesonet|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903232132/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSPHI&e=202109032300|url-status=live}}</ref>
===2008===

{{main article|January 2008 tornado outbreak sequence}}
On very rare occasions, tornado emergencies have been issued by local NWS offices that either do not verify a tornado touchdown in subsequent surveys or are based on false reports. One notable instance occurred on April 15, 2022, when the [[National Weather Service North Little Rock, Arkansas|National Weather Service office]] in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], issued tornado emergencies for several communities across seven counties in north-central and northeastern parts of the state.<ref>{{cite web |title=IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KLZK-TO-W-0049/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160005 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |access-date=10 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901234400/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KLZK-TO-W-0049/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160005 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KLZK-TO-W-0050/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160045 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |access-date=10 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901234400/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KLZK-TO-W-0050/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160045 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KMEG-TO-W-0040/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160105 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |access-date=10 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901234400/https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2022-O-NEW-KMEG-TO-W-0040/USCOMP-N0Q-202204160105 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|[[Fulton County, Arkansas|Fulton County]], [[Randolph County, Arkansas|Randolph County]], [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]], [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]], [[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]], [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]], and [[Craighead County, Arkansas|Craighead County]], including the towns of [[Viola, Arkansas|Viola]], [[Cherokee Village, Arkansas|Cherokee Village]], [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas|Walnut Ridge]] and [[Bono, Arkansas|Bono]].}} Although strong rotation was detected in the storm as it crossed from south-central Missouri into north-central Arkansas, prompting tornado warnings for the supercell, surveys conducted that weekend by NWS Little Rock—which issued the initial emergency around 7:30&nbsp;p.m. CDT, based on an emergency management report of a wedge tornado and damage to structures and trees near [[Hardy, Arkansas|Hardy]]—indicated a tornado had not touched down and that damage produced by the storm was caused by straight-line winds and hail.<ref name="accuwx">{{cite news|title=Phantom tornado? Emergency was declared but a tornado never materialized|url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/emergency-was-declared-but-a-tornado-never-materialized/1176597|author=Adriana Navarro|website=[[AccuWeather]]|date=April 22, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806024052/https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/emergency-was-declared-but-a-tornado-never-materialized/1176597|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[January 7]], [[2008]]: [[Springfield, Missouri]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/01/08/text/Severe/Severe_08.txt |title=[[January 8]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (two bulletins)

{{main article|2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak}}
The area where the emergencies were issued were within coverage “dead zones” in the radii of [[NEXRAD]] radars based in Little Rock, [[Springfield, Missouri]], and [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; the supercell was within the highest beam tilt of each radar (ranging roughly 6,000–10,000 feet above ground level), impairing the ability of the radars to provide accurate wind velocity and correlation coefficient data, with large hail being produced by the storm contaminating the correlation coefficient data, producing lower values often indicative of lofted debris. The storm occurring at nightfall in a mostly rural area also complicated matters, with video taken by residents and posted on social media erroneously confusing a [[scud (cloud)|tube cloud]] that extended to near surface level for a tornado. Five days earlier, on April 11, NWS Little Rock issued a tornado emergency for [[Jacksonville, Arkansas|Jacksonville]] and [[Cabot, Arkansas|Cabot]], based in part on reports of a large tornado on the ground in Jacksonville; although the storm—which was within {{convert|15|mi|km}} of the Little Rock NEXRAD site—did produce an EF1 tornado, the report of a large tornado that prompted the emergency, along with several additional damage reports associated with the storm filed with the NWS’s Little Rock and [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], offices associated with that day’s convection, were later attributed to an Ohio woman who used a [[Spotter Network]] account with [[IP address spoofing|spoofed]] coordinates.<ref name="accuwx"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Ohio woman files five bogus Arkansas storm reports, including one about a tornado|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/20/ohio-woman-files-five-bogus-arkansas-storm/|author=Bill Bowden|newspaper=[[Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]]|date=April 20, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|archive-date=August 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824183456/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/20/ohio-woman-files-five-bogus-arkansas-storm/|url-status=live}}</ref> A similar situation occurred on May 24, 2024, when the [[National Weather Service Shreveport, Louisiana|NWS office]] in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] issued a tornado emergency for [[Bowie County, Texas]], where no tornado threat materialized. A brief EF1 tornado occurred to the north of [[New Boston, Texas]], which had lifted before the upgrade to a tornado emergency occurred.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/new-boston-tornado-emergency-alert-too-soon-texarkana-texas-residents-voice-concerns-article-110411079 |publisher=[[Times Now]] |title=New Boston Tornado Emergency Alert "Too Soon"? Texarkana, Texas Residents Voice Concerns |date=25 May 2024 |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/national-weather-service-confirmed-tornado-north-of-new-boston-on-friday/article_c6ebd380-1ba6-11ef-bb5e-373ae4ca4cd2.html |publisher=[[KTBS-TV]] |title=National Weather Service confirmed tornado north of New Boston on Friday |date=26 May 2024 |access-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>
* [[February 5]], [[2008]]: [[Memphis, Tennessee]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/02/05/text/Severe/Severe_05.txt |title=[[February 5]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (five bulletins)

* [[February 5]], [[2008]]: [[Jackson, Tennessee]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/02/06/text/Severe/Severe_06.txt |title=[[February 6]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (three bulletins)
A tornado emergency was issued for the first time ever by the National Weather Service forecast office in [[League City, Texas|League City]] on January 24, 2023, for [[Deer Park, Texas]], after [[2023 Pasadena–Deer Park tornado|an unusual EF3 tornado]] impacted the cities of [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]], [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]], Deer Park, and portions of [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]].
* [[February 5]], [[2008]]: Cedar Grove, [[Tennessee]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/02/06/text/Severe/Severe_06.txt |title=[[February 6]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref> (two bulletins)

* [[February 5]], [[2008]]: [[Huntingdon, Tennessee]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/02/06/text/Severe/Severe_06.txt |title=[[February 6]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
During the [[December 2023 Tennessee tornado outbreak]], the National Weather Service office in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] issued a tornado emergency for [[Hendersonville, Tennessee]] and [[Gallatin, Tennessee]] in Sumner County as a large, strong tornado ripped through Hendersonville, killing three.<ref>{{Cite web|accessdate=June 3, 2024|title=IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/#2023-O-NEW-KOHX-TO-W-0036/USCOMP-N0Q-202312092235|website=Iowa Environmental Mesonet |language=en}}</ref>
* [[February 6]], [[2008]]: [[Decatur, Alabama]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2007/02/06/text/Severe/Severe_06.txt |title=[[February 6]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>

{{main article|Tornadoes of 2008#February 16-17}}
On May 6, 2024, the [[National Weather Service]] in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]] Issued a Tornado Emergency for the cities of [[Barnsdall, Oklahoma|Barnsdall]] and [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]]. Two deaths were confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OK |first=NWS Tulsa |date=2024-11-08 |title=2024 Tornado Events in Eastern Oklahoma Northwest Arkansas |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4b42e5c8f93b40018ccfa3ef4a7237bd |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |language=en}}</ref> On the next day, a tornado emergency was issued by the NWS [[National Weather Service Northern Indiana|office in Northern Indiana]] for [[Branch County, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/2024-O-NEW-KIWX-TO-W-0011.html#2024-O-NEW-KIWX-TO-W-0011/USCOMP-N0Q-202405072155 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |language=en}}</ref> It was the first tornado emergency ever issued in the state of Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-weather-tornadoes-may-7-tuesday/story?id=109984037 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> The day after, May 8, the NWS issued their second tornado emergency for Northern [[Maury County, Tennessee|Maury]], Southern [[Williamson County, Tennessee|Williamson]], and Southwestern [[Rutherford County, Tennessee|Rutherford]] counties for a tornado that impacted those counties.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
* [[February 17]], [[2008]]: [[Prattville, Alabama]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/02/17/text/Severe/Severe_17.txt |title=[[February 17]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>

{{main article|2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak}}
==Criteria==
* [[March 15]], [[2008]]: [[Atlanta, Georgia]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/03/15/text/Severe/Severe_15.txt |title=[[March 15]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref>
With the national implementation of Impact-Based tornado warnings in 2016, common criteria were established for the use of tornado emergency.<ref name=":0" /> National guidance requires the confirmation of a tornado via radar or spotter confirmation, with evidence the ongoing tornado is strong to violent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tornado Warning Guidance Part III: Nowcasting Tornado Intensity|url=https://training.weather.gov/wdtd/courses/woc/severe/storm-structures-hazards/tornado/twg3-now/presentation_html5.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=training.weather.gov|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322081913/https://training.weather.gov/wdtd/courses/woc/severe/storm-structures-hazards/tornado/twg3-now/presentation_html5.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{main article|Tornadoes_of_2008#April_3-4}}

* [[April 4]], [[2008]]: [[Ridgeland, Mississippi]] <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/04/04/text/Severe/Severe_04.txt |title=[[April 4]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> (two bulletins)
Local offices established criteria for tornado emergencies prior to this nationalization, such as:
{{main article|Tornadoes of 2008#April 8-11}}

* [[April 9]], [[2008]]: [[Breckenridge, Texas]] <ref> {{cite web|url = http://www.beloblog.com/wfaaweather/2008/04/tornado_emergen.html|title = Tornado Emergency for Stephens County and Breckenridge|accessdate=2008-04-09}}</ref> <ref> {{cite web |url=http://mtarchive.geol.iastate.edu/2008/04/09/text/Severe/Severe_09.txt |title=[[April 9]], [[2008]] [[National Weather Service]] warning archive |accessdate=2008-04-09}}</ref>
The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], is one of the forecast offices to have created a set purpose and criteria for the usage of "tornado emergencies" in tornado warning products, which were made effective on March 12, 2010. According to the Des Moines office, the purpose of the tornado emergency wording is as follows:
*[[June 11]], [[2008]]: [[Manhattan, KS]]
* To motivate and provide a sense of urgency to persons in the path of this storm to take immediate shelter in a reinforced structure that offers maximum protection from destructive winds
* To communicate to state, local, and county officials and emergency responders that they should prepare for immediate search and rescue operations
* To communicate the need to prepare for immediate medical emergencies, evacuation measures, and emergency sheltering.
Before usage, the following criteria must be met:
* A large and catastrophic tornado has been confirmed and will continue
* The tornado will have a high impact
* The tornado is expected to cause numerous fatalities.<ref name="US Department of Commerce">{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=NWS Little Rock, AR - What is a Tornado Emergency? |url=https://www.weather.gov/lzk/toremer0514.htm |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref><ref name="apnews.com">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-08 |title=What is a tornado emergency and how is it different from a warning or a watch? |url=https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-tornado-emergency-watch-warning-35ffc2076cf09dd19ba38865f1c6df15 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in [[Jackson, Mississippi]], defines a tornado emergency as "an enhanced Tornado Warning that will be issued by NWS Jackson when there is a heightened risk for a killer or violent tornado of EF3 rating or greater."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/jan/productguide_severe|title=NWS Jackson, MS Product Guide--Severe Weather Products|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103181449/https://www.weather.gov/jan/productguide_severe|url-status=live}}</ref>
Their criteria for issuing a tornado emergency are:
* Radar indication of a strong tornado
* Reliable reports of significant damage or a large tornado
* Environmental conditions supportive of strong tornadoes, which is usually the case when a [[Particularly Dangerous Situation#PDS tornado watch|Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch]] is in effect.

The National Weather Service office in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], also created criteria to declare a tornado emergency within a tornado warning statement effective January 1, 2011. It states, "Tornado Emergency can be inserted in the third bulletin of the initial tornado warning (TOR) or in a severe weather statement (SVS)." Before the phrase can be used:
* A confirmed large tornado doing significant damage must be going through a highly populated area
* Radar must indicate tornadic debris
* The tornado must be expected to cause significant, widespread damage and loss of life.<ref name="US Department of Commerce"/><ref name="apnews.com"/>

==Tornado safety==
{{main|Tornado preparedness}}
It is recommended that people in the path of a large and violent tornado, whether referenced in a tornado warning or a tornado emergency, seek shelter in a [[basement]], cellar or [[safe room]], as stronger tornadoes (particularly those significant enough to warrant the inclusion of a tornado emergency declaration within a tornado warning) pose a significant risk of major injury or death for people above ground level. Those who do not have below-ground shelter are still advised to take cover in a room in the center of the home on the lowest floor, and cover themselves with some type of thick padding (such as [[mattress]]es or [[blanket]]s), to protect against falling debris in the event that the roof and ceiling collapse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety |title=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC) |publisher=Spc.noaa.gov |access-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302230203/http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Safety |url-status=live }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of United States tornado emergencies]]
* [[Tornado warning]]
* [[Tornado warning]]
* [[List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
* [[List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

{{SevWea nav}}
{{SevWea nav}}



Latest revision as of 06:10, 12 January 2025

A tornado emergency issued for the 2023 Alexander City tornado.

A tornado emergency is an enhanced version of a tornado warning, which is used by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States during imminent, significant tornado occurrences in highly populated areas. Although it is not a new warning type from the NWS, issued instead within a severe weather statement or in the initial tornado warning, a tornado emergency generally means that significant, widespread damage is expected to occur and a high likelihood of numerous fatalities is expected with a large, strong to violent tornado.[1][2]

These enhanced warnings are intended to convey the urgency of the weather situation to the general public, who are advised to take safety precautions immediately if they are in or near the projected path of a large tornado or its accompanying thunderstorm; tornado emergencies are usually identified following the preceding storm summary in the tornado warning product, which itself will denote visual or radar confirmation of "a large and extremely dangerous [or destructive] tornado" that is ongoing; precautionary action statements in the product also recommend that people in the storm's path find shelter in an underground shelter or safe room to protect themselves from the storm, if available.

While many tornadoes observed to be at or larger than ¼-mile in width have been documented to have produced catastrophic damage falling under the "strong" or "violent" categories (EF2–EF5) of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, there have been instances in which tornadoes of this intensity have resulted in very few to no fatalities and, occasionally, have produced damage corresponding to the Enhanced Fujita Scale's "weak" category (EF0–EF1).

The usage of tornado emergencies to alert major population centers to the imminent threat of a catastrophic tornado impact has also led to the development of the flash flood emergency which is similarly employed when severe flash floods threaten populated areas.

History

[edit]

First use

[edit]

The term was first used during the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak that spawned an F5 tornado which struck the municipalities of Bridge Creek and Moore, located just south of Oklahoma City, followed by southern and eastern parts of the city itself, Del City, and Midwest City. On that day, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., David Andra, the Science and Operations Officer at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman watched as the large, destructive tornado approached Oklahoma City. This led to the issuance of the first tornado emergency, which in this instance was released as a standalone weather statement issued separately from the original tornado warning.[3]

As the large tornado approached western sections of the OKC metro area, we asked ourselves more than once, 'Are we doing all we can do to provide the best warnings and information?' It became apparent that unique and eye-catching phrases needed to be included in the products. At one point we used the phrase 'Tornado Emergency' to paint the picture that a rare and deadly tornado was imminent in the metro area. We hoped that such dire phrases would prompt action from anyone that still had any questions about what was about to happen.[4]

Below is the text of the first-ever Tornado Emergency:

WWUS34 KOKC 040004
SVSOKC
OKZ025-027>029-040030-

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
657 PM CDT MON MAY 3 1999

…TORNADO EMERGENCY IN SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA…

AT 657 PM CDT…A LARGE TORNADO WAS MOVING ALONG INTERSTATE 44 WEST
OF NEWCASTLE. ON ITS PRESENT PATH…THIS LARGE DAMAGING TORNADO
WILL ENTER SOUTHWEST SECTIONS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA
BETWEEN 715 PM AND 730 PM. PERSONS IN MOORE AND SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY
SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS!

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IF
YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO…TAKE
COVER IMMEDIATELY.

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN DESTRUCTIVE HAIL TO
THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS…OR LARGER.

Standardization and recent usage

[edit]

After the original usage for the May 3, 1999, F5 tornado, the term Tornado Emergency was used by other National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), although no uniform criteria existed and the issuance was entirely at the discretion of the forecaster issuing the warnings. Usage of the term varied from simply confirmed tornadoes in populated areas to significant, rare tornadoes causing severe damage and injuries. Some NWS forecast offices, such as the one serving the Des Moines, Iowa, metropolitan area, have created standardized criteria and purpose for the usages of the heightened wording. Because data about the tornado and its exact path are often ascertained after the initial tornado warning is issued, this designation is usually added to the Severe Weather Statement (SAME code: SVS) that is used to follow up a tornado warning.

The tornado emergency that was issued for areas including Greensburg, prior to the 2007 Greensburg tornado striking the town.

The prolific 2011 Super Outbreak set the all-time record for the most tornado emergencies issued by the National Weather Service during a 24-hour period. During the afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011, which saw a record-breaking 216 tornadoes reported across the southeastern U.S., local NWS offices in Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, Memphis, Tennessee, and Jackson, Mississippi, issued a combined total of 16 tornado emergencies during the regional outbreak for multiple long-track tornadoes; among others, the emergency declarations covered the EF4 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama tornado, and the EF5-rated Philadelphia and Smithville, Mississippi, and Hackleburg–Phil Campbell and Rainsville, Alabama, tornadoes. (The previous single-day record, 11, was set on May 7, 2003, during an outbreak of 18 tornadoes—among 30 reported that day across the central and southern United States that occurred as part of a broader nine-day outbreak sequence—that struck much of the same region affected by the 2011 outbreak.)

On April 2, 2012, the National Weather Service began an experimental program within its Wichita, Topeka, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City/Pleasant Hill offices in Kansas and Missouri called Impact Based Warning (IBW), which allows the respective offices to enhance warning information, such as adding tags to the warning messages which signify the potential damage severity. In regards to tornadoes, the creation of this multi-tiered system resulted in the implementation of an intermediate tornado warning product, a Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Warning.[5][6]

On April 1, 2013, the IBW experiment expanded to include all National Weather Service WFOs within the Central Region;[7] the IBW experiment was expanded again to include eight additional offices within the Eastern, Southern and Western Regions in the spring of 2014.[8] Within the span of eleven days, the National Weather Service WFO in Norman issued tornado emergencies for parts of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and central Oklahoma: first on May 20, 2013, for the EF5 tornado that struck Moore and portions of southern Oklahoma City,[9] and again on May 31, for portions of eastern Canadian County and western sections of the immediate Oklahoma City area for another tornado.

In 2016, Impact-Based Tornado Warnings were implemented nationwide and all offices began standardized training and practice for tornado emergencies.[10] National directive allows for the use of tornado emergency products when a severe threat to human life exists and catastrophic damage is imminent or occurring.[11]

A tornado emergency was issued in the late-night hours of Memorial Day on May 27, 2019 for Montgomery County, Ohio, including the cities of Dayton, Ohio, and Trotwood, Ohio. The tornado was rated EF4.

A tornado emergency was issued in the night hours of May 2, 2021, in Tupelo, Mississippi.[12] It was part of a larger outbreak that spawned another dangerous tornado near Yazoo City, Mississippi.[13]

The first tornado emergency ever issued in the Northeastern United States was issued by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, on September 1, 2021, at 7:04 pm for Bristol, Croydon and Burlington when a confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed over Beverly heading towards the highly populated areas of Levittown, Trenton, and Hamilton Square. The alert for areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey occurred as the remnants of Hurricane Ida passed through the region.[14] The tornado was rated EF1.[15]

On very rare occasions, tornado emergencies have been issued by local NWS offices that either do not verify a tornado touchdown in subsequent surveys or are based on false reports. One notable instance occurred on April 15, 2022, when the National Weather Service office in Little Rock, Arkansas, issued tornado emergencies for several communities across seven counties in north-central and northeastern parts of the state.[16][17][18][a] Although strong rotation was detected in the storm as it crossed from south-central Missouri into north-central Arkansas, prompting tornado warnings for the supercell, surveys conducted that weekend by NWS Little Rock—which issued the initial emergency around 7:30 p.m. CDT, based on an emergency management report of a wedge tornado and damage to structures and trees near Hardy—indicated a tornado had not touched down and that damage produced by the storm was caused by straight-line winds and hail.[19]

The area where the emergencies were issued were within coverage “dead zones” in the radii of NEXRAD radars based in Little Rock, Springfield, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee; the supercell was within the highest beam tilt of each radar (ranging roughly 6,000–10,000 feet above ground level), impairing the ability of the radars to provide accurate wind velocity and correlation coefficient data, with large hail being produced by the storm contaminating the correlation coefficient data, producing lower values often indicative of lofted debris. The storm occurring at nightfall in a mostly rural area also complicated matters, with video taken by residents and posted on social media erroneously confusing a tube cloud that extended to near surface level for a tornado. Five days earlier, on April 11, NWS Little Rock issued a tornado emergency for Jacksonville and Cabot, based in part on reports of a large tornado on the ground in Jacksonville; although the storm—which was within 15 miles (24 km) of the Little Rock NEXRAD site—did produce an EF1 tornado, the report of a large tornado that prompted the emergency, along with several additional damage reports associated with the storm filed with the NWS’s Little Rock and Tulsa, Oklahoma, offices associated with that day’s convection, were later attributed to an Ohio woman who used a Spotter Network account with spoofed coordinates.[19][20] A similar situation occurred on May 24, 2024, when the NWS office in Shreveport, Louisiana issued a tornado emergency for Bowie County, Texas, where no tornado threat materialized. A brief EF1 tornado occurred to the north of New Boston, Texas, which had lifted before the upgrade to a tornado emergency occurred.[21][22]

A tornado emergency was issued for the first time ever by the National Weather Service forecast office in League City on January 24, 2023, for Deer Park, Texas, after an unusual EF3 tornado impacted the cities of Pearland, Pasadena, Deer Park, and portions of Baytown.

During the December 2023 Tennessee tornado outbreak, the National Weather Service office in Nashville, Tennessee issued a tornado emergency for Hendersonville, Tennessee and Gallatin, Tennessee in Sumner County as a large, strong tornado ripped through Hendersonville, killing three.[23]

On May 6, 2024, the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma Issued a Tornado Emergency for the cities of Barnsdall and Bartlesville. Two deaths were confirmed.[24] On the next day, a tornado emergency was issued by the NWS office in Northern Indiana for Branch County, Michigan.[25] It was the first tornado emergency ever issued in the state of Michigan.[26] The day after, May 8, the NWS issued their second tornado emergency for Northern Maury, Southern Williamson, and Southwestern Rutherford counties for a tornado that impacted those counties.[citation needed]

Criteria

[edit]

With the national implementation of Impact-Based tornado warnings in 2016, common criteria were established for the use of tornado emergency.[11] National guidance requires the confirmation of a tornado via radar or spotter confirmation, with evidence the ongoing tornado is strong to violent.[27]

Local offices established criteria for tornado emergencies prior to this nationalization, such as:

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Des Moines, Iowa, is one of the forecast offices to have created a set purpose and criteria for the usage of "tornado emergencies" in tornado warning products, which were made effective on March 12, 2010. According to the Des Moines office, the purpose of the tornado emergency wording is as follows:

  • To motivate and provide a sense of urgency to persons in the path of this storm to take immediate shelter in a reinforced structure that offers maximum protection from destructive winds
  • To communicate to state, local, and county officials and emergency responders that they should prepare for immediate search and rescue operations
  • To communicate the need to prepare for immediate medical emergencies, evacuation measures, and emergency sheltering.

Before usage, the following criteria must be met:

  • A large and catastrophic tornado has been confirmed and will continue
  • The tornado will have a high impact
  • The tornado is expected to cause numerous fatalities.[28][29]

The National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Jackson, Mississippi, defines a tornado emergency as "an enhanced Tornado Warning that will be issued by NWS Jackson when there is a heightened risk for a killer or violent tornado of EF3 rating or greater."[30] Their criteria for issuing a tornado emergency are:

  • Radar indication of a strong tornado
  • Reliable reports of significant damage or a large tornado
  • Environmental conditions supportive of strong tornadoes, which is usually the case when a Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch is in effect.

The National Weather Service office in Nashville, Tennessee, also created criteria to declare a tornado emergency within a tornado warning statement effective January 1, 2011. It states, "Tornado Emergency can be inserted in the third bulletin of the initial tornado warning (TOR) or in a severe weather statement (SVS)." Before the phrase can be used:

  • A confirmed large tornado doing significant damage must be going through a highly populated area
  • Radar must indicate tornadic debris
  • The tornado must be expected to cause significant, widespread damage and loss of life.[28][29]

Tornado safety

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It is recommended that people in the path of a large and violent tornado, whether referenced in a tornado warning or a tornado emergency, seek shelter in a basement, cellar or safe room, as stronger tornadoes (particularly those significant enough to warrant the inclusion of a tornado emergency declaration within a tornado warning) pose a significant risk of major injury or death for people above ground level. Those who do not have below-ground shelter are still advised to take cover in a room in the center of the home on the lowest floor, and cover themselves with some type of thick padding (such as mattresses or blankets), to protect against falling debris in the event that the roof and ceiling collapse.[31]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tornado Emergency Media Advisory". NWS-Little Rock, Arkansas. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Tornado Emergency NWS Definition". NWS. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Tornado emergency in south oklahoma city metro area". NWS - Norman, Oklahoma. May 3, 1999. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  4. ^ "May 3rd, 1999 from the NWS's Perspective". The Southern Plains Cyclone. 2 (2). National Weather Service. Spring 2004. Archived from the original on November 8, 2004. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  5. ^ "Impact Based Warning Experimental Product" (PDF). National Weather Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  6. ^ Draper, Bill (April 1, 2012). "'UNSURVIVABLE!' New Tornado Warnings Aim to Scare". Yahoo! News and the Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  7. ^ "Impact Based Warning Experimental Product". Crh.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  8. ^ National Weather Service (2014). "Impact Based Warnings". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Howell, George (May 21, 2013). "Okla. Medical Examiner preparing for '40 more bodies' | National News - KCCI Home". Kcci.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "Impact-Based Warning Content". training.weather.gov. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Schoor, Greg (2021). "NWS Directive 10-511" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Duff, Renee (May 2, 2021). "Tupelo, Mississippi, takes direct hit from large nighttime tornado". AccuWeather. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Several observed tornadoes in Mississippi Sunday evening". WJTV. May 2, 2021. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "2021 [KPHI] MOUNT_HOLLY Tornado (TO) Warning (W) Number 49". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. NWS Mount Holly. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  15. ^ September 1 2021 Tornadoes (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. September 3, 2021. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Adriana Navarro (April 22, 2022). "Phantom tornado? Emergency was declared but a tornado never materialized". AccuWeather. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  20. ^ Bill Bowden (April 20, 2022). "Ohio woman files five bogus Arkansas storm reports, including one about a tornado". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "New Boston Tornado Emergency Alert "Too Soon"? Texarkana, Texas Residents Voice Concerns". Times Now. May 25, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "National Weather Service confirmed tornado north of New Boston on Friday". KTBS-TV. May 26, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  24. ^ OK, NWS Tulsa (November 8, 2024). "2024 Tornado Events in Eastern Oklahoma Northwest Arkansas". ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  25. ^ "IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  26. ^ "Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declares state of emergency in parts of state over tornadoes". ABC News. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "Tornado Warning Guidance Part III: Nowcasting Tornado Intensity". training.weather.gov. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  28. ^ a b US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "NWS Little Rock, AR - What is a Tornado Emergency?". www.weather.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "What is a tornado emergency and how is it different from a warning or a watch?". AP News. May 8, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  30. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "NWS Jackson, MS Product Guide--Severe Weather Products". www.weather.gov. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)". Spc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2014.