It really is a double-edged sword for forecasters, but it all comes down to personal responsibility. In the south, finding a meteorologist that I trusted was just part of living, like finding a good doctor or dentist. Just making an arbitrary decision and deciding to ignore a weather warning smacks of sheer stupidity.
Obviously it’s a bit different with hurricanes, but I suppose if people are willing to risk life and limb rather than get off their duffs and save themselves then there’s really nothing the rest of us can do. It really shouldn’t be up to the gov’t/NWS to figure out how to convince people that yes there really is something coming your way that will kill you.
Pronounced hook echo due west of Wichita:
A Tornado Warning remains in effect for northern Kingman and
southeastern Reno counties until 715 PM CDT...
At 644 PM CDT... a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Kingman... and moving northeast at 40 mph.
Hazard... developing tornado and ping pong Ball size hail.
Source... radar indicated rotation.
Impact... significant house and building damage possible. Mobile homes
completely destroyed if hit. Some trees uprooted or snapped.
Vehicles will likely be thrown by tornadic winds.
Locations impacted include...
Pretty Prairie... Partridge and Mt Vernon.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
This storm has a history of producing funnel clouds and strong
rotation. Conditions are favorable for a tornado to form at any time!
Lat... Lon 3805 9808 3782 9770 3748 9820 3757 9837
time... Mot... loc 2347z 224deg 35kt 3771 9808
Tornado... radar indicated
hail... 1.50in
Only three tornado warnings active at the moment on the map, but this one sounds bad:
... A Tornado Warning remains in effect for northwestern Dickinson and
southeastern Ottawa counties until 730 PM CDT...
At 656 PM CDT... a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located near Niles... and moving northeast at 35 mph.
This is a particularly dangerous situation.
Hazard... damaging tornado.
Source... weather spotters confirmed tornado. Storm spotters observed
a large tornado 2 miles southwest of Niles.
Impact... major house and building damage likely and complete
destruction possible. Numerous trees snapped. Major power
outages in path of tornado highly likely. Some roads
possibly blocked by tornado debris. Complete destruction of
vehicles likely.
Locations impacted include...
Niles... Solomon... Talmage and Manchester.
This includes Interstate 70 between mile markers 267 and 271.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
To repeat... a large... extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life... 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.
Lat... Lon 3897 9755 3913 9737 3913 9717 3899 9714
3889 9738 3893 9739 3893 9738 3896 9738
3896 9756
time... Mot... loc 2358z 227deg 32kt 3894 9747
Tornado... observed
tornado damage threat... significant
hail... 1.75in
Leighton