Funnel clouds and weather in general

[DanoInTx]

I've lived here in Fort Worth for about 7 years now, and I still don't understand completely how these things work.  You watch the tube, they say funnel clouds.....funnel cloud is a tornado that hasn't touched the ground yet. Then you get the Thunderstorm warnings and watches....I really don't understand, is it a watch, or a warning? Same with Tornado watch/warning...which comes first, and what makes the National Weather Service declare either?  Now the clincher....I have one of these tornado sirens up the street from my house, it seems like that stupid thing goes off without warning, "just cuz".  What makes that go off?  I understand that they test it also and it will go off at a certain time, on a certain day....that isn't what I am saying.  What I am saying is it'll go off when there are storms an hour away, then when I swear God is going to rip my house in two there are no sirens....what is the point in these things?  Are they automatic, or does "Mrs.Kravits" got a button on her kitchen counter that she can press when she gets nervous?

Now what I usually do is just watch the tube, and move the kids into the bathroom when the nice weatherman says,"Get inside a closet!", but I would really like to understand this stuff better.  Looking outside right now, looks like we're about to get pounded:(

Dan

[JMG]

Dan when the sky turns green head for the shelter hehe otherwise go on about your business. I have been in a tornado and its really nothing you can get warned about other than what ya see on the TV. Kind of sucks that its that way but ya see, first things are normal then it sounds like a freight train is coming where there shouldnt be a freight train. If ya see your neighbors mailbox fly past your window chances are its time to hit the bathroom.

John

[shadow]

Going green as they say, we get a LOT of em up here. The little one's, F1's we call "Dirt Devel's", muss your hair and yard up a little. F2's, require safty glasses hehe. F3's and F4's, find a burrow and get in as far as can......the wrath of GOD is coming!. Ed

[Big_Bill]

Hay Dano,

A watch is when all the conditions exist for a tornado. A warning is when funnel clouds have been spotted.

Believe it or not, a few years ago we had a tornado strike just two blocks from me, yes here in old New Jersey. I heard the roar of a fright train, the skies were purplish, and when I went back inside the news was flashing that a tornado had hit our section, and to take cover. Well way too late for me, but all was well at my place! "Thank God"

[DanoInTx]

Watch = could happen
Warning = has happenned

Got that part.....

Now why does that stupid siren keep going off when nothing is happening?

I think it's "option B", the siren is conected to a button in "Mrs. Kravits" kitchen window.

Dan

[Big_Bill]

Dano, I really don't know how or why the siren goes off, but I suspect that funnel clouds had been spotted in your area.

Just my guess ? But I think they would be a Greater Warning.

I know if I lived in a tornado area, I would have a deep safe room to keep my guns in, and to go to during those warnings !

Cause I don't want anything to happen to my babies

Just a note: The fronts that bread these tornados can be hundreds of miles long, hot meeting cold air masses. But ounce it forms a Tornado, it may cause great damage that you, hopefully never see. God help those it affects.

[JMG]

Well speaking of tornadoes... tonight about 8:00 one touched down about 6 miles from my house. and about a half mile from where I work.I went to Whattaburger for some dinner and it got real nasty and some people came in and told everyone. So I sat and ate my burger rather uncomfortably seeing as I was about 3 miles away when it touched down.

John