Severe Weather Alert: Should You Pay Attention?

Just one thunderstorm watch was issued in Racine County in 1982 — compared with 12 thunderstorm and tornado warnings during 2012.

The increase from 30 years ago could be attributed to improved technology as well as an increased understanding of weather systems, local meteorologists say.

"Doppler radar came out in the mid-90s, and that allowed us to see the rotation, we could then see velocity data — we could actually see the wind speeds," said Meteorologist Mark Gehring with the Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service forecast office. 

Gehring said meteorologists monitor these doppler radars watching for speeds of more than 50 mph or rotating winds — especially when those are occurring in lower levels of the atmosphere.

A watch is issued when meteorologists see the potential for severe weather to develop, and a warning is issued as those conditions become more severe and "it's either happening or we expect it to happen," he said. "We want to get the tornado warning out before the tornado forms … and we're able to get that a good amount of times." 

Patch asked its readers on Facebook whether storm warnings and watches are overdone, and while some respondents felt the abundance of alerts issued made it hard to take them serious — others said its still important to pay attention.

"I thought that, when I was a kid, tornado warnings were only used if one was spotted, and watches were when the weather was conducive to tornadoes forming. It seems like warnings now are the old watches," Crystal Whalen wrote on the Caledonia Patch Facebook page. "Same with storms. So no, I don't take them seriously."

But one reader said not paying attention to warnings can have serious repercussions when the alert actually comes true.

"The NWS puts out a (Hazardous Weather Outlook) as a means of informing the public of potential severe weather events," Tj Kwiatkowski wrote. "There are many times that we are under the gun for severe weather and it never pans out, BUT there is always a chance it could. The NWS, Milwaukee Area Skywarn, and other organizations are out here to help educate and inform the public of how dangerous weather events can be. There have been far too many examples in the last 4-5 years that everyone should pay attention to the weather!"

Wisconsin's peak tornado season is considered be during June and July, according to the National Weather Service, meaning the state has nearly escaped the timeframe with little incident. However, the station warns, extreme weather can happen at any time. 

More weather information

• Extreme weather causes injury, even death. Find out such tolls over the past 30 years in your county.
• Which extreme weather can you best tolerate? Vote in our poll.
• Fact or myth: Is Lake Michigan a tornado deterrent?