Residents question lack of sirens before Highfill tornado
HIGHFILL, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) — On June 18, a tornado touched down in Highfill almost unexpectedly without tornado sirens warning the city's residents.
Residents knew there was potential for severe weather, but the lack of tornado sirens left some residents confused.
For a city to alert the signals, a tornado warning must be issued by the National Weather Service. Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards released a statement on why the alarms weren't sounded in Centerton:
Edwards said he always has his eye on the weather and his number one priority is to make sure everyone is safe and notified.
'I watch the weather like a hawk. This day, for instance, I knew we were in a high risk for severe weather, so I posted it very early in the day and I said, 'Hey, just heads up,' and I put timing. I also want to stress for folks to have some way to receive alerts,' Edwards said.
Residents are still asking the question, 'How did the National Weather Service not see the threat of a tornado?' Chief Meteorologist Dan Skoff explains exactly why.
'The problem is that the type of tornadoes that we saw that morning happen very quickly. Also, they're very low to the ground. So, our radar technology for the three radars that surround our weather coverage area, those beams are too high in order to detect that rotation,' Skoff said.
It is recommended that someone have three forms of notifications when it comes to severe weather. Skoff said relying on the tornado sirens alone is simply not enough.
'Don't wait for the sirens. A lot of times, power goes, gets knocked out, and the siren system goes down. And if that is your only source of warning, then you just failed in terms of getting notified of that tornado warning. Never solely rely on them. Have additional sources for warning,' Skoff said.
As a reminder, outdoor storm sirens are designed to warn people who are outside. To get more up-to-the-minute information and alerts on severe weather, download the Your Weather Authority app.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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