Chasers creating panic on social network sites

[Donovan Gruner]

Huh? I'm pretty sure April 26 was nothing like May 3, 1999....which was the comparison some people were making that other people on this thread were calling out for being over-hyped.

But, since you wanna be a d*ck about it, there's always the April 13 Ardmore, OK "tornado"

Sorry you didn't have very good luck that day sitting at your house. Must be tough to be you.

When I read some of this the other day, I got the vibe it was referring to Saturday AND Sunday, Monday, etc. Saturday had shown potential to be a "day before the day" type setup. Obviously it didn't happen, but I'm pretty sure we can all agree the last two days have been out of control, and its not over yet.

 

[Warren Faidley]

When I originally opened this thread, I was referring to the overall sensationalized statements and over-baked forecasts that have been going on for years for personal profit. This was not in regards to this specific event, which most of us knew was going to be trouble before I even opened this thread. Then again, some chaser(s) were saying that last Wednesday and Saturday were going to be "off the charts" mega-events even when the meteorology did not support it.

Having said that, even during this event, I've still seen posts and information that was inaccurate in regards to locations, timing, intensity, etc. For example, saying a "city is about to be destroyed" is completely out of line and creates panic -- especially when it never happened.

W.

 

[rdale]

Does it actually create panic?

 

[Rob H]

*snip snip snip snip*

 

[Warren Faidley]

Does it actually create panic?

If you follow some of the social media threads, people often post begging for help in emergency situations. Of course there is usually no reply. Instead of relying on NWS warnings, some people seem to think that following chaser(s) online is the best and "only" method. Today some of the biggest offender(s) were projecting yet another "imminent" major tornado outbreak, but once more, the meteorology did not and does not support another outbreak on the level of yesterday and the day before. Either these chaser(s) are not the hotshot meteorologists they claim to be or they don't want to bust the bubble of fear = making money.

W.

 

[Paul Knightley]

Sorry you didn't have very good luck that day sitting at your house. Must be tough to be you.

When I read some of this the other day, I got the vibe it was referring to Saturday AND Sunday, Monday, etc. Saturday had shown potential to be a "day before the day" type setup. Obviously it didn't happen, but I'm pretty sure we can all agree the last two days have been out of control, and its not over yet.

Surely the last few days have been within the realms of the climatology of the southern USA in April. It was a well forecast event by the NWS - yes, there was a tragic loss of life, but I don't see how social media hyping up the event, as has been suggested, has helped in any way. There seem to be some folk who think that large, wedge-type tornadoes are something new, or 'insane' or whatever, rather than them being part of the climatology of the region.