Columbus, IN changes their tornado siren policy

Columbus, Indiana has adopted a new tornado siren policy that goes along with most other cities.
With the old policy, Columbus officials would sound the sirens for a tornado warning or if a tornado watch was in effect, they would sound the sirens for a severe thunderstorm warning. This was very confusing to people and led to the sirens not being paid attention to since they would go off so often.
This year the sirens in Columbus have been sounded 7 times. 6 of those were for a thunderstorm warning during a tornado watch and only one time was for an actual tornado warning.
The radar technology and storm spotter networks available to the NWS allow most tornado warnings to be issued way ahead of time for plenty of preparation. I am glad Columbus has now made the tornado sirens to be used only for tornado warnings.
Indianapolis had this same problem for a number of years and they made the switch last year.
The are a few occasions where the NWS will request the sirens to be sounded during a thunderstorm warning. This will happen if 100 mph winds are possible with the storm or extremely large hail such as softball size.

There used to be a few communities around here that would sound the sirens during a thunderstorm warning. I do not know if any still do this. If your city still has this policy, let me know.

Comments

[Laura Spencer Scott]

I believe Madison, In still sounds the sirens for severe thunderstorm warnings.

[JohnBelski]

Thanks Laura... I have heard complaints about Madison doing this for years and wasn't sure if it was still their policy.

[JohnBelski]

I always thought they were called tornado sirens.