Did these people have any warning? At all?
Hard to say...Bettes on TWC said they were chasing one, but it was difficult to see as it was wrapped in rain. They had warnings out, but there was just no time...Bettes was stunned when his crew came upon Joplin...had difficulty maintaining composure on air. Not sure if sirens were activated...
Looked back on this page and didn’t see Joplin mentioned in that time frame. May have missed it though.
Severe Weather and Flash Flood Warnings
http://kamala.cod.edu/svr/
They should have had good warning. The bad weather started three counties west (in Kansas), and they were very slow moving. The storm had produced at least two tornados when it was in Kansas.
Turns out yes, they had the current average warning, 23 minutes based on this 5:17 PM warning and reports the tornado hit Joplin at 5:40 PM
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KSGF/1105222217.wfus53.html
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
517 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPRINGFIELD HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN NEWTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...
SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...
* UNTIL 600 PM CDT.
* AT 514 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO NEAR RIVERTON...OR 4 MILES NORTH OF BAXTER SPRINGS...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BAXTER SPRINGS...CLIFF VILLAGE...DENNIS
ACRES...DIAMOND...DUENWEG...DUQUESNE...FIDELITY...GALENA...IRON
GATES...JOPLIN...LEAWOOD...LOWELL...REDINGS MILL...RIVERTON...
SAGINAW...SHOAL CREEK DRIVE...SHOAL CREEK ESTATES...SHOAL CREEK
ESTATE AND SILVER CREEK.
INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 13 WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED BY
THIS TORNADO.
IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
DAMAGING HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL TORNADO WARNING FOR A SEPARATE STORM ACROSS
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN JASPER COUNTY. (issued at 5:09 PM)