February 2023 - General Weather Discussion

[baralheia]

So who is responsible for activating tornado sirens? Is it the National Weather Service or is it up to county jurisdictions?

It varies from state to state, but generally the NWS does not have direct control over outdoor warning sirens. Depending on the location it can be a mix of city and/or county government. Here in OKC, I'm almost positive they're controlled by the city's office of emergency management, located near the Zoo on north MLK Blvd.

[NikonNurse]

I’m at Kilpatrick and Wilshire. I don’t know if it was the wind or what but the sirens didn’t seem as loud as they do on Saturday….or any other time. It seems like some weren’t sounding..

[Celebrator]

We need to start a March Tread ASAP. Thursday is looking better and better. Might be a bit further south but say Pauls Valley down to Lawton, down to Wichita falls over to Dallas. I know the SPC highlighted Eastern Texas but system is slower and maybe a bit more north.

"better and better" to whom? Define "better and better."

[jedicurt]

yes in oklahoma it is a mix of City and County Emergency Managers who control the sirens.

[baralheia]

I’m at Kilpatrick and Wilshire. I don’t know if it was the wind or what but the sirens didn’t seem as loud as they do on Saturday….or any other time. It seems like some weren’t sounding..

My understanding is OKC only activates sirens if the sirens are within the boundary of the warned area - more or less. They don't control sirens individually for severe weather threats - instead they activate them in groups, so if you do hear the sirens going, you're either in or very near to the warned area. The city has a map on their site that shows the area that each group covers here: https://data.okc.gov/portal/page/vie...ctors&view=map

[kukblue1]

Thursday risk a tad more east. Pauls Valley, Duncan, Bowie Tx East. DFW under the gun. Watch for so snow or Ice in the metro 3am on Friday morning.

[April in the Plaza]

Thursday risk a tad more east. Pauls Valley, Duncan, Bowie Tx East. DFW under the gun. Watch for so snow or Ice in the metro 3am on Friday morning.

Yea, the setup for the Dallas / Carthage corridor is looking particularly nasty.