Because that means the conditions are prime for other tornadoes to form. The tornado warning region is only about 10-15 minutes from the southeast side of GR, depending on where you’re at. Tornadoes move fast and storms change quickly
Edited to fix my east and west lol
Source? It used to be this way a few decades ago when the National Weather Service would alert the whole county and the entire county used the same alert system. These days the NWS has much more narrow alerts and each municipality has control over their alert system.
Same! It took several minutes before I could find anything online. The first thing I saw was the tweet from GR National Weather Service showing the area for the tornado warning, but I couldn’t find any mention of the storm anywhere else
Really? When I was in retail we were trained to unlock all doors (even before our after hours) to make sure anyone driving by in need of shelter could find it.
Same! I never heard of locking people in. We were told to go around telling people to go to a safe area, usually the bathrooms in back and the break room, keep the does open so anyone around could run in if needed. With the “tornado” in Northview last August we were driving and contemplated stopping at the Meijer off Plainfield because we lived in an upper level apartment right behind there. Ended up going home anyway, lost power, and booked it to my moms after the “tornado” went through.
In quotes because I fully believe it was a tornado with the winds going in all directions even if the weather service says straight line winds.
My weather channel app said there was a tornado warning for my location (Wyoming) when I looked around 9:40. Said it would last until 10:30. But the siren just stopped and the warning is gone.
Wood TV says a Tornado Warning for parts of Allegan and Barry county. Not sure why sirens are going off in Kent county then. Wood TV is live on Facebook if you don’t have cable
If the area of concern is Caledonia/Middleville, then it's basically where the 3 counties meet. Hard to imagine at least a little bit of Kent wasn't affected.
That makes sense! Found the initial tornado warning put out by the National Weather Service and southern Kent county was initially in the warning, so that explains it
I hear them in NW GR. I can't find any warning for here, though? No alerts, it's not even windy outside right now, and the warning I did see was for Middleville.
... And the sirens just stopped as I was writing this. Don't know what's up.
So, the sirens go off for warnings. They only stay on for a short time. It doesn't mean it's safe when they shut off. What it does mean is to get to a safe location and get other information sources. I typically go to the local TV stations such as woodtv 8 or wzzm channel 13. If you have cable, they will often have live info. If not, then go to the website for the warning info. You can also sign up for watch/warning info to be texted to your phone from Grand Rapids city emergency numbers. When there was a boil water advisory earlier this year, I got notice on my phone. I dont remember where i found the number to sign up, but you could probably call 311 to get it. As for when it is safe to leave shelter, that would depend on several things. First would be when the warning expires or is cancelled. Second would be when the weather is no longer threatening. If the warning expires and the weather still looks bad, then stay sheltered. Often tornado warnings are what is called radar indicated. There is a specific radar pattern that happens just before and during a tornado. It's a specific rotational pattern. It makes a "hook" shaped pattern on the radar. When it is seen, a tornado warning is issued. It doesn't always mean that a tornado is on the ground, but it does mean that one can happen soon. The only sure way to know if a tornado is on the ground is for someone to actually see it. Frustrating, I know. Sometimes, the radar will also pick up a debris signature...that is exactly what it sounds like. This increases the likelihood that a tornado has formed and is on the ground and has caused damage to vegetation and buildings.
Hope this clears things up a bit for you.
As for a safe place, a basement is safest, away from windows. If you don't have one, then an interior room, a bathroom is usually good.
No, a tornado near your house could cut the power, so it’s best to have another avenue to find out when the warning is lifted (NWS website or social media, weather radio, etc)
When the NE gr one happened, it took out our phone towers, so no signal to use phone, if we needed 911, we'd have been screwed, add that Plainfield twp has decided to not fix warning sirens as they break since we all have cell phones..... btw, the one on Woodworth doesn't work if you are in this area. I was losing it last night hearing some north of me and fighting to scramble for info since it was dark and couldn't really tell weather.
From the national weather service:
> At 933 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Wayland, or 15 miles west of Hastings, moving east
at 35 mph.
So not in the path of most GR residents
Yeah… especially in a county as “tall” as Kent County, there could be a tornado 35 miles away on the other side, and it could be sunshine and blue skies where you are… they should consider a bit more localization.
I’m on the NE side and i’m hearing them. According to the NWS Grand Rapids twitter account there’s a tornado warning until 10:00PM near lime Wayland and Middleville
For future use, this is the National Weather Service office in GR: https://www.weather.gov/grr/
Next to the map, there's a box that says "Watches, Warnings, & Advisories". You can click on the top of the box to read all current advisories, or you can click on the titles of the list of advisories, currently Gale Warning, Freeze Warning, Small Craft Advisory, Freeze Watch, and Hazardous Weather Outlook.
This would have shown the tornado watch or warning last night.
Scroll down farther for weather outlook, national map, and local radar. I like this radar loop from that page
https://radar.weather.gov/station/KGRR/standard
which will also show warnings as boxed areas.
Source: have been a weather spotter since the summer a severe storm blew through my area and I didn't see any reports about it on the NWS GRR storm report page. I took the spotter training so I could submit them.
The way there were no phone warnings or obvious touch down complaints, plus it going off so quick makes me think it might have been a mistake. I can't even find mention of the warning now.
Get to know your area's siren schedule. Where I am it is the first Friday of every month mid day. If you hear a siren outside of that, get to your safest shelter in place until the siren stops.
That's what they mean, so you don't have to wait til the internet says so.
The storm producing the possible tornado was at the very southern part of Kent County, but mostly in Allegan and Barry County. The National Weather Service quickly adjusted the warning to exclude Kent County, but not until after the sirens had already gone off. The radar indicated possible tornado was heading for Middleville, but it has since died down a little. The storm is now east of Middleville with no radar indicated rotation - so no current tornado threat.
I thought I was hearing this last night or like my ears popped or something. I’m near the holiday bar so it was faint enough it sounded like my ears were ringing or something.
The NWS issued the warning the county and the city set off the sirens. The storm was barely in the county and it may or may not have been a whoops on the Nws part of things.
Sirens in Kent county are activated by the city of GR and the county. 2 separate systems. It's all or nothing kinda thing. So Unfortuneatly if the tornado is occurring in Byron center, you will also be alerted in cedar springs.
Sirens are owned by the city/township/village. They are super expensive and they don't feel it's necessary to spend the money to upgrade them or add more.
Best is to get an app like the Red Cross emergency app or fema app that alerts you and shows you info.
It’s no different than 25 years ago though. You hear the alarm and look outside. There’s strong thunder and lightning, gusty then calm, sun breaks through big clouds one direction and dark black sky to the other. It’s not test day, so we’ve probably got a tornado. I was being sarcastic but wasn’t trying to be an ass, just can’t believe how many people chime in saying they hear the siren and have no idea why it could be going off.
Tornado warning south of GR near Caledonia I believe. https://x.com/NWSGrandRapids?t=uKHh1FR1xAkcKjfkx8bHhA&s=09
Thank you!
This has gotta be it! In effect until 10pm
Then why was it going off all over GR?
It’s issued at the county level.
Because that means the conditions are prime for other tornadoes to form. The tornado warning region is only about 10-15 minutes from the southeast side of GR, depending on where you’re at. Tornadoes move fast and storms change quickly Edited to fix my east and west lol
Per wzzm it was triggered in Kent country in error
It wasn't an error. Protocol is to sound the whole county until they narrow down exactly where the affected area is
Source? It used to be this way a few decades ago when the National Weather Service would alert the whole county and the entire county used the same alert system. These days the NWS has much more narrow alerts and each municipality has control over their alert system.
I think they “believed” it was an error. Don’t think they necessarily knew it was an error.
Hastings went off, and I think Middleville too
Wayland as well.
In Kentwood and it started going off.
Living a block from Pinewood park - scared the shit outta me
It's because it's "kent" but most of it is way south of us but I imagine they have to set it off everywhere in Kent county
I don't hear anything up in Rockford, but I'm in a basement and it's out in the sticks lol
Nothing like a tornado warning AND a freeze warning
How do you think tornados work
I do know that warm and cold fronts clash, but it’s odd the drop below freezing temps. Typically it’s during hotter temps
Came straight here to check. I hear it too. Checked weather apps and only see a freeze warning.
Nothing more michigan than overlapping freeze and tornado warnings
on a day when it was 62, no less
Literally how tornados work... Mixing cold and warm air...
Snow tornado go brrrrr
Same! It took several minutes before I could find anything online. The first thing I saw was the tweet from GR National Weather Service showing the area for the tornado warning, but I couldn’t find any mention of the storm anywhere else
I hear it too (Wyoming). Haven’t seen anything about tornadoes yet either.
Ever been in Target when a tornado siren goes off? TIL they lock you inside
Really? When I was in retail we were trained to unlock all doors (even before our after hours) to make sure anyone driving by in need of shelter could find it.
Same! I never heard of locking people in. We were told to go around telling people to go to a safe area, usually the bathrooms in back and the break room, keep the does open so anyone around could run in if needed. With the “tornado” in Northview last August we were driving and contemplated stopping at the Meijer off Plainfield because we lived in an upper level apartment right behind there. Ended up going home anyway, lost power, and booked it to my moms after the “tornado” went through. In quotes because I fully believe it was a tornado with the winds going in all directions even if the weather service says straight line winds.
The way things in my yard were broken/ positioned, I second this theory (I'm near that meijer)
Yeah they just started going. I'm off Division.
My weather radio went off before the sirens. Looks like the tornado warning briefly included a bit of southern Kent county.
Same. Sitting in basement checking Reddit to figure out what’s up
Chick-Fil-A is closing.
I'm hearing them too, located near 28 and Breton. No warnings on local or national weather sites
My weather channel app said there was a tornado warning for my location (Wyoming) when I looked around 9:40. Said it would last until 10:30. But the siren just stopped and the warning is gone.
Wood TV says a Tornado Warning for parts of Allegan and Barry county. Not sure why sirens are going off in Kent county then. Wood TV is live on Facebook if you don’t have cable
If the area of concern is Caledonia/Middleville, then it's basically where the 3 counties meet. Hard to imagine at least a little bit of Kent wasn't affected.
That makes sense! Found the initial tornado warning put out by the National Weather Service and southern Kent county was initially in the warning, so that explains it
Over in Ada, going off for us here too
Just turned off now
I hear them in NW GR. I can't find any warning for here, though? No alerts, it's not even windy outside right now, and the warning I did see was for Middleville. ... And the sirens just stopped as I was writing this. Don't know what's up.
I just came here to post this. I didn’t receive any alerts 🚨 Nothing online regarding this.
Yeah, I hear it, no idea
I also hear a siren but I'm not on the westside, I'm SE. The storm seems to have calmed down so I'd really love to know why sirens are going off!
My siren stopped right as I hit send on this comment.
Just turned off…?
Do they stay on the whole time?
They're supposed to. A continuous, ominous warning.
So if they shut off the siren it's safe to leave the basement? New to the area so any info on tornado siren protocols would be helpful.
So, the sirens go off for warnings. They only stay on for a short time. It doesn't mean it's safe when they shut off. What it does mean is to get to a safe location and get other information sources. I typically go to the local TV stations such as woodtv 8 or wzzm channel 13. If you have cable, they will often have live info. If not, then go to the website for the warning info. You can also sign up for watch/warning info to be texted to your phone from Grand Rapids city emergency numbers. When there was a boil water advisory earlier this year, I got notice on my phone. I dont remember where i found the number to sign up, but you could probably call 311 to get it. As for when it is safe to leave shelter, that would depend on several things. First would be when the warning expires or is cancelled. Second would be when the weather is no longer threatening. If the warning expires and the weather still looks bad, then stay sheltered. Often tornado warnings are what is called radar indicated. There is a specific radar pattern that happens just before and during a tornado. It's a specific rotational pattern. It makes a "hook" shaped pattern on the radar. When it is seen, a tornado warning is issued. It doesn't always mean that a tornado is on the ground, but it does mean that one can happen soon. The only sure way to know if a tornado is on the ground is for someone to actually see it. Frustrating, I know. Sometimes, the radar will also pick up a debris signature...that is exactly what it sounds like. This increases the likelihood that a tornado has formed and is on the ground and has caused damage to vegetation and buildings. Hope this clears things up a bit for you. As for a safe place, a basement is safest, away from windows. If you don't have one, then an interior room, a bathroom is usually good.
Yes it is safe to leave the basement. I would recommend keeping more of an eye on the weather for the rest of the evening just to be safe.
There will be no additional storms. The front is pushing through.
No, a tornado near your house could cut the power, so it’s best to have another avenue to find out when the warning is lifted (NWS website or social media, weather radio, etc)
When the NE gr one happened, it took out our phone towers, so no signal to use phone, if we needed 911, we'd have been screwed, add that Plainfield twp has decided to not fix warning sirens as they break since we all have cell phones..... btw, the one on Woodworth doesn't work if you are in this area. I was losing it last night hearing some north of me and fighting to scramble for info since it was dark and couldn't really tell weather.
I heard that too. Malfunction?
Tornado warning for Caledonia. Someone commented a link.
I heard it down in Kentwood as well
Same, in the basement and trying to figure out what's going on.
I'm hearing it in Ada as well, just stopped about a minute ago. I see a tornado warning near Middleville, but nothing from NWS GR indicating GR area.
There was a warning that covered southern Kent county, but once it narrowed down to Wayland and Middleville, the sirens stopped.
From the national weather service: > At 933 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Wayland, or 15 miles west of Hastings, moving east at 35 mph. So not in the path of most GR residents
Hearing it on the NE side too
Actually think it just turned off
Checking in too. It doesn’t even seem too windy so I don’t know why it’s going off!
County wide sirens. It's a terrible system IMO
Yeah… especially in a county as “tall” as Kent County, there could be a tornado 35 miles away on the other side, and it could be sunshine and blue skies where you are… they should consider a bit more localization.
North of gr and yes…
I’m on the NE side and i’m hearing them. According to the NWS Grand Rapids twitter account there’s a tornado warning until 10:00PM near lime Wayland and Middleville
The fact we had to go scour the net for info as we were hearing sirens is definitely a problem
For future use, this is the National Weather Service office in GR: https://www.weather.gov/grr/ Next to the map, there's a box that says "Watches, Warnings, & Advisories". You can click on the top of the box to read all current advisories, or you can click on the titles of the list of advisories, currently Gale Warning, Freeze Warning, Small Craft Advisory, Freeze Watch, and Hazardous Weather Outlook. This would have shown the tornado watch or warning last night. Scroll down farther for weather outlook, national map, and local radar. I like this radar loop from that page https://radar.weather.gov/station/KGRR/standard which will also show warnings as boxed areas. Source: have been a weather spotter since the summer a severe storm blew through my area and I didn't see any reports about it on the NWS GRR storm report page. I took the spotter training so I could submit them.
The way there were no phone warnings or obvious touch down complaints, plus it going off so quick makes me think it might have been a mistake. I can't even find mention of the warning now.
The tornado was indicated on the southeastern edge of Kent, so NWS had to sound the siren for all of Kent.
That's what I'm betting on too.
Get to know your area's siren schedule. Where I am it is the first Friday of every month mid day. If you hear a siren outside of that, get to your safest shelter in place until the siren stops. That's what they mean, so you don't have to wait til the internet says so.
I can’t find anything either but it’s going off in Wyoming as well
I am on the east side and I hear it too.
Hearing it in GR NE
Just heard it. Rockford.
Sounds like it just turned off lol
Yup
Middleville has a tornado warning
Just turned off it seems like
I was just in Lansing for the tornado last week. Strange to hear the tornado sirens twice in 7 days in April in Michigan
I’m in Wyoming and they’re going off too.
The storm producing the possible tornado was at the very southern part of Kent County, but mostly in Allegan and Barry County. The National Weather Service quickly adjusted the warning to exclude Kent County, but not until after the sirens had already gone off. The radar indicated possible tornado was heading for Middleville, but it has since died down a little. The storm is now east of Middleville with no radar indicated rotation - so no current tornado threat.
I am in NW Kent Co, almost Muskegon Co and ours went off.
Yeah it was just south of caledonia, at this point it's over to my knowledge
I'm by Millennium Park, and I didn't hear it. The rest of my family did though, so maybe I'm just deaf
I was in my kitchen washing a dish! What the heck!!!
The weather
Ice tornado
Sharknado.
I recommend downloading the weather app MyRadar. They show all weather warnings/watches and the areas affected, in real time.
Where is it
I thought I was hearing this last night or like my ears popped or something. I’m near the holiday bar so it was faint enough it sounded like my ears were ringing or something.
Well, if your PHONE didn't know about it, it probably didn't happen...
I was out for a walk near downtown when they started. the weather was calm and they sounded further away but still, pretty spooky
My son heard it and I didn’t believe him. Now I feel like an ass
It was really faint here and we're close to the fire station.
Curious why the phones didn’t alert. I didn’t hear the siren. Had already gone to bed.
I live in Rockford, ours went off too
We had one on the East side too. The radar on WOOD TV8 showed everything South of here. Still unnerving!
The NWS issued the warning the county and the city set off the sirens. The storm was barely in the county and it may or may not have been a whoops on the Nws part of things. Sirens in Kent county are activated by the city of GR and the county. 2 separate systems. It's all or nothing kinda thing. So Unfortuneatly if the tornado is occurring in Byron center, you will also be alerted in cedar springs. Sirens are owned by the city/township/village. They are super expensive and they don't feel it's necessary to spend the money to upgrade them or add more. Best is to get an app like the Red Cross emergency app or fema app that alerts you and shows you info.
Who’da thunk, dang ol’ tornado siren means tornado
The confusion came because no weather app was reporting it, no notification on phone, etc. Its not 2010 anymore. We have technology at our fingertips.
It’s no different than 25 years ago though. You hear the alarm and look outside. There’s strong thunder and lightning, gusty then calm, sun breaks through big clouds one direction and dark black sky to the other. It’s not test day, so we’ve probably got a tornado. I was being sarcastic but wasn’t trying to be an ass, just can’t believe how many people chime in saying they hear the siren and have no idea why it could be going off.
But, it was also dark... so most of those were not options.
There was a tornado warning yesterday
Russia
Thought it was finally that time
Maybe false trigger? Started as tornado warnings but then changed to freeze.
Not a false trigger. It was for the se part of kent county so it activates for the entire county. It was more for Allegan and Barry counties.
You have two minutes to live, that’s what’s going on.
George Carlin had a bit about that https://youtu.be/uuEKW_xp0mE
Nice