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| Weatherwatch: When tornadoes were taboo in the US |
For over six decades, from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century, U.S. meteorologists were prohibited from using the word "tornado" in weather forecasts. This ban, instituted in 1885 by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, aimed to prevent public panic and consequently led to a lack of tornado warnings even during imminent threats.
Sergeant John Park Finley of the U.S. Army Signal Corps pioneered early tornado prediction efforts. By 1884, he had trained nearly a thousand spotters to report potential tornado activity. His warnings, though not always accurate, were effective in saving lives by allowing people time to seek shelter.
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| Weatherwatch: When tornadoes were taboo in the US |
However, Finley's work was shut down following the ban on the word "tornado." The policy remained in place even after the U.S. Weather Bureau took over forecasting. The turning point came in 1948, after a devastating tornado hit Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, destroying 54 aircraft without any warning. This prompted a reevaluation of tornado prediction, reviving and modernizing the science and leading to the reinstatement of tornado warnings.
In 2025, restrictions on meteorologists’ language have returned, but now pertain to terms related to the climate crisis, raising concerns about limiting public discourse on critical environmental issues.
This historical suppression of critical weather terminology underscores the importance of transparent communication in meteorology. As we face contemporary challenges like climate change, it is imperative to ensure that scientific discourse remains open and accessible to the public.
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