Why did sirens go off in Tarrant County for severe thunderstorm warning?
The storms sirens went off in Tarrant County during a severe thunderstorm warning Thursday afternoon just before 4 p.m. followed shortly afterward by a tornado warning.
The sirens first went off because of strong and potentially damaging winds and large hail reported with this line of storms.
A tornado watch is in effect for the Dallas-Fort Worth region and most of North Texas until 8 p.m.
Outdoor warning sirens — and why they are activated — became an issue in 2019 when 80 mph winds blew through Dallas-Fort Worth in the early hours.
The Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management released a statement at the time explaining that sirens sound for more than tornadoes.
“We can’t stress enough that the sirens are ‘outdoor warning sirens’ and not ‘tornado sirens,’” the statement said.
The sirens can be activated for any emergency, the city says.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 6:15 PM.
