Are Severe Weather Alerts Overused?

Just two thunderstorm and tornado warnings and watches were issued in Milwaukee County in 1982 — compared with 14 during 2012.

The increase from 30 years ago could be attributed to improved technology as well as an increased understanding of weather systems, local meteorologists say.

"Doppler radar came out in the mid-90s, and that allowed us to see the rotation, we could then see velocity data — we could actually see the wind speeds," said Meteorologist Mark Gehring with the Milwaukee/Sullivan National Weather Service forecast office. 

Gehring said meteorologists monitor these doppler radars watching for speeds of more than 50 mph or rotating winds — especially when those are occurring in lower levels of the atmosphere.

A watch is issued when meteorologists see the potential for severe weather to develop, and a warning is issued as those conditions become more severe and "it's either happening or we expect it to happen," he said. "We want to get the tornado warning out before the tornado forms … and we're able to get that a good amount of times." 

Patch asked its readers on Facebook whether storm warnings and watches are overdone, and while some respondents felt the abundance of alerts issued made it hard to take them serious — others said its still important to pay attention.

"How many severe storms have been accurately predicted this summer? It's hard to take them seriously when the meteorologists miss the mark more often than not," Chris House wrote on the Greendale Facebook page. "The last thunderstorm WARNING for our area brought me a whopping ZERO in the rainfall department."

But one reader said not paying attention to warnings can have serious repercussions when the alert actually comes true.

"I always take them seriously," Jenna Czaplewski wrote. "Being diabetic, I have to. And you're always hearing news stories about folks who don't take it seriously and pay horrible consequences."

Wisconsin's peak tornado season is considered be during June and July, according to the National Weather Service, meaning the state has nearly escaped the timeframe with little incident. However, the station warns, extreme weather can happen at any time. 

More weather information

• Extreme weather causes injury, even death. Find out such tolls over the past 30 years in your county.
• Which extreme weather can you best tolerate? Vote in our poll.
• Fact or myth: Is Lake Michigan a tornado deterrent?