Tornados: Why Do You Want Them?

[ENBP]

As much as I love to follow models and track the weather, I am not looking forward to severe weather season. The obsession that some wx hobbyists have with hoping fir tornados, anticipating the severe weather season, seems immoral. I know people who died in tornados. It sickens me that wx forums have a group of people who hope for weather that kills people and destroys lives.

[EcceQuamBonum]

Yes, but you fail to distinguish between hoping for tornadoes and hoping for the consequences of tornadoes.  I think many people here, myself included, consider tornadoes to be one of the most awesome forces in the natural world.  To be offered a glimpse of that unmitigated power holds for me the same fascination as, say, peering deep into the night sky or standing on top of a rocky peak in the morning light.

None of us here desires that people should be hurt, killed, or deprived of property because of tornadoes.  I believe that each of us recognizes that, regardless of whether we hope for them or not, tornadoes will happen, and people will be injured and killed by them.   This is why education is key.  Every one of us wants people to be more aware of proper safety procedures during severe weather events.  Yet that doesn't mean that we can't also stand in awe of the sheer power of nature. 

But let's extrapolate from your example for a moment.  Snow- and ice-covered roads kill motorists every year; should we stop wishing for snow, as well?  Before you start bandying about terms such as "immoral," perhaps consider that we don't just like tornadoes because we enjoy seeing people's lives uprooted and ruined.

[ajatwister]

Weather is our best friend and worst enemy

[Charles L.]

Nobody wants a tornado to smash through a house and kill people. I live in Macon County, TN which had a very deadly EF-3 tornado come through the county seat of Lafayette on Feb. 5th. That night was the scariest night of my life and I hope no one has to go through anything like that in their lifetime.

My fascination with tornadoes is how they occur. How the atmosphere has to be just right for them too occur. Take shear for instance, if we have just the right amount of it, it is great for tornadic product. But if there is too much of it, it can "tear" the top part of the storm away and be a severe storm stopper.

And EcceQuamBonum said it great, they will occur and I am wanting tornado safety to be taken more seriously around here then it is.

[Eric]

Yes, but you fail to distinguish between hoping for tornadoes and hoping for the consequences of tornadoes.  I think many people here, myself included, consider tornadoes to be one of the most awesome forces in the natural world.  To be offered a glimpse of that unmitigated power holds for me the same fascination as, say, peering deep into the night sky or standing on top of a rocky peak in the morning light.

None of us here desires that people should be hurt, killed, or deprived of property because of tornadoes.  I believe that each of us recognizes that, regardless of whether we hope for them or not, tornadoes will happen, and people will be injured and killed by them.   This is why education is key.  Every one of us wants people to be more aware of proper safety procedures during severe weather events.  Yet that doesn't mean that we can't also stand in awe of the sheer power of nature. 

But let's extrapolate from your example for a moment.  Snow- and ice-covered roads kill motorists every year; should we stop wishing for snow, as well?  Before you start bandying about terms such as "immoral," perhaps consider that we don't just like tornadoes because we enjoy seeing people's lives uprooted and ruined.

I couldn't have said it better myself.  As a chaser and certified storm spotter, I look forward annually to the severe weather season in hopes of chasing, IMO, God's most awesome power.  NO ONE in the chaser/spotter community wishes for peoples' lives' being affected by tornadoes.  They are a phenomenon rarely seen and their power cannot be understood or underestimated.  There are millions of people who have been affected by tornadoes throughout the years and undoubtedly will be millions more affected in the future and there's nothing you nor I can do about that...so we live our life day to day hoping NOT to become affected. 

Every season, chasers nationwide gear up for that two week period in the Plains when tornadoes notoriously reach their peak.  Within that group are scientists and researchers who, through trial and error, blood sweat and tears, that through their research of tornadoes assist in the National Weather Service in increasing the warning time of a tornado warning.  Those researchers are ESSENTIAL in saving lives, but the only that research can take place is by observing tornadoes.  Should they not perform that duty because somebody's life might become affected?  If so, we ALL would suffer the consequences.

[tennessee storm09]

a tornado is the most powerful and fascinating storm from god. its always been in my blood to study and learn from them. nobody including me want to see them destroy propperty or lives. but thats the downfall of them. i am planning  to take a week out of my vacation to go to the southern plains and go for a good chase.. i will have to keep up with the forecast pretty close. hope to go out in may. but for the time being i am hoping for at least one high risk or maybe 2 days here in the midsouth.

[tennessee storm09]

eric, outstanding post there man, i couldnt said any better myself. exactly what i was trying to say.

[Eric]

a tornado is the most powerful and fascinating storm from god. its always been in my blood to study and learn from them. nobody including me want to see them destroy propperty or lives. but thats the downfall of them. i am planning  to take a week out of my vacation to go to the southern plains and go for a good chase.. i will have to keep up with the forecast pretty close. hope to go out in may. but for the time being i am hoping for at least one high risk or maybe 2 days here in the midsouth.

Usually the last week of May and the first week of June are prime for Plains chaisng.

[Crockett]

As much as I love to follow models and track the weather, I am not looking forward to severe weather season. The obsession that some wx hobbyists have with hoping fir tornados, anticipating the severe weather season, seems immoral. I know people who died in tornados. It sickens me that wx forums have a group of people who hope for weather that kills people and destroys lives.

It's the ugly side of the weather as a hobby. Tornadoes fascinate me, and if there's one around, I hope to be able to witness it (from a safe vantage point, of course ). I never wish or hope for a tornado, but it's inevitable that tornadoes will occur this spring and every spring, and those of us who are intrigued by weather will inevitably be excited when a severe weather outbreak occurs. I think most folks on most weather forums fall within this category.

On the flip side of that, there are people (even some on this forum) who are just like you say: They wish for tornadoes; they're visibly disappointed if an anticipated tornado outbreak doesn't occur. I've seen comments made on weather forums that thoroughly disgusted me. I'll never understand the mindset of wishing and hoping for tornadoes. Ever. Of course those folks aren't wishing for death and destruction, but you don't get tornadoes without death and destruction. Even if people in the path escape unscathed, it's inevitable that they'll have their property damaged or destroyed. I always tell those people that if they're going to wish for tornadoes, wish for it over their house, not mine. 

[Thundersnow]

I equate it to interest in other things that are dangerous or negative.  Some people have a fascination with volcanos and look forward to a chance to witness a volcanic eruption and study its effects.  At what cost?  Potential destruction of lives and property.   But, is it immoral to have an interest in it and hope to witness and study it?  Of course not!  For, that's the basis of how we learn and gain understanding of those things so that dangerous events can be better understood and improved preparations taught to the public.

There are criminal psychologists and homocide detectives who enjoy their work of profiling and studying serial killers and various crimes.  Are these people immoral?  No, the skills they learn and the talents they gain help bring criminals to justice and perhaps save lives.

Same with those who have a passion for studying dangerous weather.  If not for these folks, we wouldn't know what we know, and many more lives would be lost each year from severe weather.

At the same time on the flip side, for severe weather enthusiasts, there is a delicate line to tow here.  I think sometimes we do have to be careful how we express interest and anticipation of dangerous weather because of how it comes across to some people (as ENBP has illustrated).

[muleyman]

Well guys after about 2 years of browsing and keeping up to date with the current weather, this is finally a topic i feel compelled to post on, as most of the topics i only read and therefor dont want to post and clog up the board with more posts from people not as educated on the weather as others. First i belive the topic starter means well and may just have not expressed themselves correctly, because i myself survived the april 06 tornado in gallatin i lost my home and everything i owned but i thank the good lord almighty that myself and my children survived that horrible nightmare, i was diagnosed with p.t.s.d  after the storm and still to this day have become anxiety riddled and panicy when even the slightest of strong storms roll by, it has caused more stress on my family and marriage than anything in the past ten years.I think the poster means not neccessarily that its immoral to chase the storms or to wanna see them as much as , and i agree, the almost cheery and gleeful attitudes toward dangerous situations, i myself you just ask the board as a fellow human being, to think about those of us who have survived and our lives are forever changed ,and those of us who did not survive ,before you guys make some of your comments about the weather, sorry i know its a long first post but this topic its my close to heart, thanx guys i appreciate most of what you guys do and i wish you continued success in your studies

[Tom23]

I agree Muleyman with that. But its the sheer rarity/excitement that gets the blood flowing. I myself have never witnessed a tornado damage due to being tuck safe away between the Plateau and Mountains, but have had close calls. The threat itself hits like an Energy Drink and pumps you up, even if the consequences are horrible.

I must also say that my added enthuisiasm on this subject of Severe Storms is because I'm new to the party, along with Adam. We live on weather (well also on working out, sleeping, and breathing, but you get the picture). Snow, sleet, hail, storms, even severe heat/cold is a wonder to us.

[ENBP]

Thanks for the response, folks. I'm pretty much a lurker here, but I regularly read this message board, and I have learned a lot and like the sense of community and mutual interest here. I just find tornados to be absolutely terrible, and dread the arrival of severe weather season. The excitement and anticipation of tornado season is something I don't share, but at least I have some sense of why many people here are fascinated with them.

[ChrisPC]

I've been in several tornadoes in my life, some with pretty bad consequences. I wasn't hurt, but people near me were hurt or even killed. When I was 12 years old, one went over late one night, and touched down an hour later, killing a dozen people. I was depressed for a long time after that. However, it's still a thrill to see them. What's even better, with Doppler, etc., many fewer people die these days. Could you imagine something like the Murfreesboro tornado 20 or 30 years ago?

[Mathman]

Thanks for the response, folks. I'm pretty much a lurker here, but I regularly read this message board, and I have learned a lot and like the sense of community and mutual interest here. I just find tornados to be absolutely terrible, and dread the arrival of severe weather season. The excitement and anticipation of tornado season is something I don't share, but at least I have some sense of why many people here are fascinated with them.

Amen to that.  I admire and respect the professionals who risk their lives to study these monsters, but I personally derive no joy from the coming weather season.