Right now, the national average lead time for a tornado warning is about 5 minutes.

Right now, the national average lead time for a tornado warning is about 5 minutes.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It varies by region
• D. It is about 20 minutes

Answer: (B)

Tornado warning lead time is the period from when a warning is issued to when the tornado is observed or estimated to be on the ground at a location. The national average is not about 5 minutes; warnings generally provide longer lead times—often on the order of several minutes to well over ten minutes—though the exact amount can vary by region, storm speed, and how quickly the tornado is detected. The important idea is that the average is typically longer than five minutes, so the statement is not accurate.

Tornado warning lead time is the period from when a warning is issued to when the tornado is observed or estimated to be on the ground at a location. The national average is not about 5 minutes; warnings generally provide longer lead times—often on the order of several minutes to well over ten minutes—though the exact amount can vary by region, storm speed, and how quickly the tornado is detected. The important idea is that the average is typically longer than five minutes, so the statement is not accurate.