Overlapping Tornado and flash flood (TORFF) warnings: Examining their climatology and residents' perceptions in the Southeast

Keywords: flash flood, tornado, perception, climatology
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 14

Abstract

Severe weather can often include multiple overlapping threats, including simultaneous tornado and flash flood (TORFF events). TORFF events create a complex timeline of information for weather forecasters issuing warning protocols and for members of the public receiving warning protocols, as the recommended protective actions for the two hazards are contradictory––sheltering below ground during a tornado and moving to high ground during flash flooding events. Public response to these events, which are warned for approximately 400 times per year, has not yet been studied, and other critical questions related to TORFF climatology and public vulnerability remain. In this work, the climatology of TORFF events is examined for a portion of the Southeast United States that is commonly affected by them. The climatology includes the types of storms that caused the events, and the timeline of the tornado and flash flood warnings. Additionally, perceptions of residents were gathered through a survey (n=300), which provides information about which threat they deem more frequent and more dangerous.