Tornado Warning in Pittsburgh Area (Finleyville: live in, stations, property)

[terraaus]

I live in the South Hills area and received a phone call yesterday from a friend, about a possible tornado warning in my area. I did not have my television on, so had not been aware. Soon thereafter, I received an Emergency Alert on my iPhone stating there had been a reported tornado touchdown in my area, and I was to call 911 if I needed assistance.

This really surprised me because I thought I would receive an Emergency Alert when the tornado was headed towards me, telling me to seek shelter, not after it had hit. Is this the normal way alerts are handled? This alert wasn't helpful to me at all. I could have figured out to call 911 on my own. It would have been more helpful to know the tornado was headed towards me and to seek immediate shelter.

[Reggiezz]

My warning came 90 minutes after the tornado touched down in Finleyville. The radar showed clear skies by then.

[terraaus]

But is this how it's supposed to work, you don't get an alert until after the tornado touches down?

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by terraaus

But is this how it's supposed to work, you don't get an alert until after the tornado touches down?

No, that's not how it's supposed to work. Does Pittsburgh have a tornado siren system to warn those who are outside? Here, all our local television stations go full time weather coverage with Doppler weather radar. Last Wednesday my area had 9 confirmed tornadoes, two of which were EF-3 so the TV coverage and all the warnings really help. There was lots of property damage but no deaths. Of course, tornadoes are not unusual here. Warnings that affect my particular area (assuming you have location services turned on on your phone) will sound a warning if your area is affected.

[Reggiezz]

Why tornadoes have swarmed Ohio and Pittsburgh this year

https://www.accuweather.com/en/sever...s-year/1651926