When severe weather threatens, accurate forecasts are only part of the equation. How people respond to tornado forecasts and warnings is ultimately what makes the difference between safety and disaster.
That’s why researchers at NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), in collaboration with Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO), are working to better understand how individuals receive, interpret, and act on tornado forecasts.
“Our researchers use data from surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand how people use weather information to make decisions and protect themselves and their loved ones,” said NSSL Researcher Makenzie Krocak. “When bad weather threatens, we want to make sure the information you get is accurate and useful.”
Forecast technology continues to improve, but there is a human side to severe weather. The way individuals perceive risk and choose to act is just as important as how early a warning might be issued. Every person receives and responds to tornado warnings in ways unique to their background, understanding or preparedness. To ensure communications from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS), media outlets, and emergency personnel are accessible and easily understood, we need data from real events.
One way researchers are gathering real world examples of decisions people make before and during storms is the Tornado Tales program, which collects first-hand accounts from individuals who have recently experienced a tornado or severe storm. These real-world stories help scientists understand what influences decision-making during high-impact weather events.
“Tornado Tales is one way researchers are collecting data from people who have actually experienced severe weather and tornadoes,” said Krocak. “We are learning where people go to get information, what information they really need, and when those needs change.”
Participants are invited to complete a short (5 minutes or less!), easy-to-navigate online survey. It includes questions about how they learned about the approaching storm, what information they trusted, what actions they took, and why. Whether someone heard a siren, received an alert on their phone, or saw something on social media, their experience provides researchers with insights into the human element that radar and models alone can’t.
The data collected through Tornado Tales is already helping researchers improve the information that is sent out ahead of severe storms. By better understanding how people interpret warnings and what drives them to seek shelter (or not), scientists can shape messages that are clearer, more actionable, and more likely to save lives.
Here’s where YOU come in. We need YOUR help! If you’ve experienced a tornado or severe storm in the past year, or if you find yourself in one in the future, you can share your story through the Tornado Tales survey. It only takes a few minutes, and your experience could directly contribute to improvements in how weather warnings are communicated across the country.
Tornado Tales is a powerful example of how social science is advancing severe weather safety. By combining personal experiences with atmospheric research, NSSL is working to ensure that tornado forecasts are not only accurate—but also accessible and actionable to the people they are meant to protect.
