Accidental Los Angeles Tornado Warning

[Derecho]

Back in 2004 the NWS Oxnard accidentally sent out a fake tornado warning that triggered the emergency alert systems. Wouldn't want to be the person who made this mistake! I think the official cause was a practice drill, but I bet the forecaster was bored and playing around

WFUS56 KLOX 211553
TORLOX
CAC037-211615-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
839 AM PDT SAT AUG 21 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA

* UNTIL 915 AM PDT

* AT 825 AM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTH OF
GLENDALE...OR ABOUT NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
PASADENA BY 850 AM PDT
MOUNT WILSON BY 905 AM PDT

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE
LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO
NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3413 11837 3400 11822 3425 11788 3441 11808

$$

-----

WFUS56 KLOX 211558 CCA
TORLOX
CAC037-211615-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
839 AM PDT SAT AUG 21 2004

PLEASE DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS TORNADO WARNING. NO TORNADO EXISTS.

[DarkSky]

Nothing like keeping people on their toes!

[Derecho]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

Nothing like keeping people on their toes!

That movie The Day After Tomorrow! Came out months before.

[SlideShowBob]

Good thing the forecaster retracted the warning (fessed up) in the same minute and didn't let it slide for an extended time period...lol