Real storm? Or election year storm?

(Forgive my cynicism but that's what happens when you're subjected to non-stop government spin and relentless bullshit day after day, week after week, and year after year.....)

Right now there's a tornado warning in effect for the City of Ann Arbor, and the city sirens are sounding. "Take shelter" is being texted in emergency emails.

This is confirmed at Weather.com:

A Tornado Warning has been issued. A tornado has actually been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area. Take cover immediately.
I'm indoors and in front of my computer, and have basically nothing to report, but you never know. If my house is hit, that would be a serious problem. If not, I think I'm equipped to probably survive a temporary loss of power and water.

MORE: The tornado watch warning (thanks for the correction!) is also confirmed at NOAA:

AT 915 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF MANCHESTER...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
PLEASANT LAKE AROUND 930 PM EDT.
BRIDGEWATER AROUND 935 PM EDT.
SALINE AROUND 940 PM EDT.
PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP AROUND 942 PM EDT.

THE WARNING INCLUDES AREAS SURROUNDING THESE LOCATIONS...
WILLIS... DIXBORO... YPSILANTI...
SALINE... MANCHESTER... ANN ARBOR...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

Hmmm... I'll let readers know if I live. If not, well, I won't know how to let you know.

MORE: Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but it seems that "SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO" -- is not quite the same thing as a tornado.

It's now 9:27 and the gods sound angry.

posted by Eric on 06.23.10 at 09:10 PM





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Comments

Eric, perhaps you should go review the difference between a tornado 'watch' and a tornado 'warning'. Might help...

Bill Johnson   ·  June 24, 2010 01:20 PM

A tornado WATCH means that the conditions are right for a tornado (or many) to form. A tornado WARNING means one has been sighted visually or on radar. A watch covers large areas (several counties), a warning covers a very specific area (one county).

I'm in Texas, so we know the nuances. If you got them more (looks like you are just outside the alley) then your watchers would be equipped with the kind of doppler radar that lets them pinpoint the location down to the street, and your newsmen would be plotting out probability cones for people to be taking cover in.

Phelps   ·  June 24, 2010 01:25 PM

I understand the distinction, but I don't see how it would have helped me evaluate the accuracy of last night's warning.

This morning they were arguing over whether or not there were tornadoes in the area.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/12600_blacked_out_after_severe.html

***QUOTE***

Dave Gurney, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in White Lake Township, said officials will investigate unconfirmed reports of tornado touchdowns Wednesday night in Monroe and Washtenaw counties, where funnel clouds were spotted and wind gusts reached 72 mph.

***END QUOTE***

I saw a lot of lightning, but not really that much wind.

Similar story here:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100624/NEWS06/100624011/1322/A-Washtenaw-tornado?-Experts-iffy

Eric Scheie   ·  June 24, 2010 01:30 PM

Hey!

Maybe someone could explain why a "strong storm" would cause a "tornado warning" to be issued (as was the case in Chicago yesterday):

http://news.puggal.com/chicago-tornado-44257/

***QUOTE***

Chicago area had a strong storm last evening that swept across the area and as a result of that storm a tornado warning has been issued by the authorities. According to the latest reports, this storm is moving on a path that leads towards the area of New York.

***END QUOTE***

The standard used in this area seems to be not an actual tornado, but whether there is a storm "capable of producing a tornado."

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/flat_tornado-warning-issued-for-parts-of-southeast-michigan-1002612.html

(The warning was issued before the unconfirmed reports of a touchdown. )

Eric Scheie   ·  June 24, 2010 01:40 PM

BTW, I do see my error in the post, as I mistakenly called the NOAA's warning a "watch," although I quoted the text of the warning. While I shouldn't have called it a watch, I'm still not quite understanding how and why the warning was issued, though.

Eric Scheie   ·  June 24, 2010 01:58 PM

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