Residents Question Lack of Tornado Warning for Libertyville EF-0 Tornado

Libertyville, Mo. (KFMO) - Some residents in the Libertyville area are expressing concern after no tornado warning was issued for the EF-0 tornado that touched down Saturday evening. The storm caused structural damage to a few homes and outbuildings and knocked down several trees. National Weather Service Meteorologist Melissa Delia tells KFMO B104 News that while radar did show some rotation with the storm, it did not meet the necessary criteria for issuing a tornado warning.

Delia explains that issuing warnings for every rotating storm, especially on a day with numerous thunderstorms, like Saturday, can lead to a high false alarm rate. She says that over-warning can cause the public to become desensitized and potentially ignore future warnings.

Despite the lack of a warning, the National Weather Service did confirm the EF-0 tornado after surveying the damage in the Libertyville area. No injuries were reported.