What is a TORFF?

Welcome to the first installment of Wx Insights.

“I kept telling him, ‘No. No. No. Let’s go into the closet. … I don’t trust that.”

Alvin Hennington, Flooding victim

On May 31, 2013, during a TORFF (simultaneous TORnado and Flash Flood) event, five people died in a drainage tunnel while seeking shelter from a tornado. (Read an account of the event here.)

Recent research at the University of Oklahoma evaluates the balance of coverage during simultaneous weather events.

“Be aware of the amount of time you devote in coverage to different threats, because your audience’s awareness of those threats will follow your coverage of them.”

Sean Ernst
Research Assistant
OU IPPRA and SPC
OU Meteorology PhD Candidate

This episode of Wx Insights takes a look at that research through a broadcaster’s lens.

Sean Ernst is the researcher guest. We discuss how he and his colleagues looked at several events, with special attention to the May 31, 2013 TORFF in El Reno, OK. Tornado mentions far outnumbered flooding, reminding weather communicators to balance coverage.

Percentage of weather coverage that focused on discussing tornado, flood, and rain hazards for the May 31 2013 El Reno TORFF event in Oklahoma City. Over 50% of weather coverage analyzed focused on messaging for the tornado hazard, while flooding and rain hazards were only mentioned in 18% and 30% of coverage, respectively.

View Sean’s full TORFF presentation here.

Researchers have expressed great interest in hearing from you. Please scroll down and share your comments.

Our panel for this episode:

Sean Ernst, Research Assistant, OU IPPRA and SPC, OU Meteorology PhD Candidate. Connect via Twitter. Email at: Sean.Ernst@ou.edu

Spencer Adkins, Chief Meteorologist, WOWK-TV, Huntington, WV. Connect via Twitter.

James Aydelott, Chief Meteorologist, KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK. Connect via Twitter.

Kevin Selle. Host. Connect via the contact page.