History of Tornado emergency in Timeline

A tornado emergency is a high-level alert issued by the National Weather Service within a tornado warning, indicating a severe threat. It signals an imminent or ongoing tornado with the potential for catastrophic damage, widespread destruction, and a high risk of numerous fatalities. This enhanced warning emphasizes the extreme danger posed by a large, strong to violent tornado, urging immediate and decisive action to protect lives.

May 3, 1999: First Tornado Emergency Issued

On May 3, 1999, the first tornado emergency was issued during a tornado outbreak that spawned an F5 tornado which struck Bridge Creek and Moore, Oklahoma, and surrounding areas. David Andra of the National Weather Service issued the emergency as a standalone weather statement as the tornado approached Oklahoma City.

May 7, 2003: Previous Single-Day Record of Tornado Emergencies

On May 7, 2003, the previous single-day record of 11 tornado emergencies was set during an outbreak of 18 tornadoes, part of a broader nine-day outbreak sequence affecting the central and southern United States.

January 1, 2011: National Weather Service Nashville Criteria for Tornado Emergency

Effective January 1, 2011, the National Weather Service office in Nashville, Tennessee established criteria to declare a tornado emergency within a tornado warning statement.

April 27, 2011: Record Tornado Emergencies During Super Outbreak

On April 27, 2011, the 2011 Super Outbreak set a record with 16 tornado emergencies issued by the National Weather Service in a 24-hour period. These emergencies were issued for multiple long-track tornadoes across the southeastern U.S., including those affecting Tuscaloosa-Birmingham, Alabama, and Philadelphia and Smithville, Mississippi.

April 2, 2012: Impact Based Warning (IBW) Experimental Program Started

On April 2, 2012, the National Weather Service began an experimental Impact Based Warning (IBW) program within its Wichita, Topeka, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City/Pleasant Hill offices in Kansas and Missouri to enhance warning information, including adding tags to warning messages to signify potential damage severity.

April 1, 2013: IBW Experiment Expanded

On April 1, 2013, the Impact Based Warning (IBW) experiment was expanded to include all National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) within the Central Region.

2014: Further Expansion of IBW Experiment

In 2014, the Impact Based Warning (IBW) experiment was expanded again to include eight additional National Weather Service offices within the Eastern, Southern and Western Regions.

2016: Nationwide Implementation of Impact-Based Tornado Warnings

In 2016, Impact-Based Tornado Warnings were implemented nationwide. All National Weather Service offices began standardized training and practice for tornado emergencies, using common criteria for issuing these warnings when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage is imminent or occurring.

September 1, 2021: First Tornado Emergency in Northeastern United States

On September 1, 2021, the first tornado emergency ever issued in the Northeastern United States was issued by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, for areas including Bristol, Croydon and Burlington. The alert occurred as the remnants of Hurricane Ida passed through the region, and the tornado was rated EF1.

April 15, 2022: Tornado Emergencies Issued Based on False Reports

On April 15, 2022, the National Weather Service office in Little Rock, Arkansas, issued tornado emergencies for several communities, based on an emergency management report of a wedge tornado. However, surveys later indicated damage was caused by straight-line winds and hail, and that a tornado had not touched down.

May 24, 2024: Tornado Emergency Issued Without Verified Tornado Threat

On May 24, 2024, the National Weather Service 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, but had lifted before the upgrade to a tornado emergency occurred.