City of Muskogee: sirens failed prompt activation due to communication disruption

In the aftermath of Tuesday's tornado in Muskogee and the failure of the tornado sirens to go off until after the EF1 twister (with a final path length of 14.3 miles) had blown through southern neighborhoods in the city, officials have tracked down the issue that caused the delay:

Statement on Outdoor Warning Siren Activation

MUSKOGEE, Okla. April 17, 2026 -  The City of Muskogee is providing an update regarding the delayed activation of the Outdoor Warning System during the severe weather event on April 14, 2026.

Following an extensive investigation by the contractor responsible for maintaining and servicing the Outdoor Warning System, the City of Muskogee has been informed of the conditions that prevented the timely activation of the sirens.

The investigation found that the system controlling the sirens functioned properly and issued the activation command immediately after the tornado warning was released by the National Weather Service. However, a disruption in the system’s communication link prevented that activation command from reaching the sirens.

City responds to siren delay after tornado strikes southern part of Muskogee

Last night around 11pm, a tornado struck southern portions of the city of Muskogee, with damage focused in the Grandview 7 and Hilldale areas. It seems to have been relatively minor, with no injuries reported that I have heard.

However, I noticed that tornado sirens did not go off in the city limits of Muskogee until the tornado was already crossing the Arkansas River headed toward rural portions of the county between Fort Gibson and Braggs, well after the damage had already been caused. 

Contrary to assumptions that some are posting on social media, the National Weather Service has no input or responsibility for activating sirens during severe weather. That lies with the local government bodies, in this case, the city emergency management department. The city will activate the sirens during damaging wind events in addition to tornado warnings. This storm system dropped a tornado in fairly rapid fashion, so whether the failure was because the system itself failed or because it wasn't activated by those responsible remains to be seen.

Here is the response from the City of Muskogee:

Muskogee Responds to Severe Storm 

MUSKOGEE, Okla. April 15, 2026 - The City of Muskogee is aware of concerns regarding the delayed activation of outdoor storm warning sirens during last night’s severe weather event.

Fetgatter pushes pause on storm chasing license bill

Good. This bill moved far too quickly without input from - as the new popular phrase is - "stakeholders" in the field.

Fetgatter to Further Study Storm Chasing Licensing Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, today announced he has decided to take a deeper dive into the issue of storm chasing in Oklahoma before advancing House Bill 2426.

He said Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, will be holding an interim study on the legislation that would allow professional storm chasers to obtain state licensing giving them special accommodations while tracking severe weather. The bill earlier passed the House and was engrossed to the Senate.

Storm chasing license bill advances through Senate committee

Both legislative bills seeking to create a professional storm chasing license and extend certain 'first responder' privileges have now passed their first committee votes (the House version, HB 2426, passed in committee on Feb. 4th, and advanced to another committee). It's extremely unpopular among the storm chasing community, as they feel - among other things - that it's one step toward regulating all storm chasing activities (and puts the government thumb on the scale for some members in an unfair advantage and unsafe manner).

Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC) and Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee)

Emergency Weather Response Bill wins unanimous committee approval

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, won unanimous, bipartisan support from the Senate Retirement and Government Resources Committee for legislation to help storm trackers travel Oklahoma roads and highways more safely during severe weather. Senate Bill 158 would allow storm trackers employed by FCC licensed radio or TV stations or employees from universities with meteorology programs to be able to travel as first-responders.

Reactions to Oklahoma storm chasing license bill passing first State House committee vote

Read also: Storm chaser licensing and regulation? These legislators want to see it happen. (January 31st, 2025)

I'm going to put State Rep. Fetgatter's press release first, then follow up underneath with some comments of my own and from storm chasers on the legislation.

Fetgatter Passes Storm Chasing Licensing Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6th) – Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, on Tuesday passed a bill in committee that would allow professional storm chasers to obtain licensing through the state that will allow them special accommodations while they are tracking severe weather.

Storm chaser licensing and regulation? These legislators want to see it happen.

Read also: Reactions to Oklahoma storm chasing license bill passing first State House committee vote (February 8th, 2025)

State Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC) and State Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee) are the authors of Senate Bill 158 and House Bill 2426, the Oklahoma Emergency Weather Response and Tracking Regulatory Act, which aims to create a licensure and regulatory framework for professional storm chasers in Oklahoma.

Specifically, the measure would create a 'professional severe weather tracker' license for individuals specifically contracting with either television stations or Oklahoma colleges or universities. The license would cost $500, with a $250 annual fee, in addition to requirements for insurance.

U.S. House passes Bridenstine's Weather bill

House passes Bridenstine Weather Forecasting Improvement Act

Washington, DC, April 1, 2014 -- Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 2413, the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014, sponsored by Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma 1st District Congressman.  This bill will enable technology development to save lives and protect property from severe weather, including tornadoes, without adding to the budget or debt.  The measure received tremendous bipartisan support and passed on a voice vote.

HR 2413 directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize weather-related activities and rebalances NOAA’s funding to bring weather related activities to a higher level.  The bill completes this reprioritization in a fiscally responsible manner.  HR 2413 does not increase NOAA’s overall authorization.  

This bill will speed up the development and fielding of critical technology.  By requiring coordination and prioritization across the range of NOAA agencies, HR 2413 will help get weather prediction and forecasting technologies off the drawing board and into the field.  It codifies technology transfer between the Office of Atmospheric Research – the researchers – and the National Weather Service – the operators, a vital link that ensures next generation weather technologies are implemented.

Perhaps most importantly, H.R. 2413 enhances NOAA’s collaboration with the private sector and universities.  Oklahoma is on the cutting edge of weather research, prediction, and forecasting with absolutely world class institutions such as the National Weather Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma.  This bill clarifies that NOAA can purchase weather data through contracts with commercial providers and place weather satellite instruments on private payloads.  Leveraging the private sector will lead to lower costs for better weather data, saving lives and property.

Bridenstine commented, “This legislation is focused on saving lives.  The National Severe Storms Lab at the University of Oklahoma is repurposing military radar technology for tornado forecasting and warning.  These improved forecasts have the potential to give the public over an hour of lead time to respond to a tornado, compared to the 13 to 15 minute average currently possible.  It is simply unacceptable to continue providing tornado warnings of 15 minutes or less, as was the case in Moore, Oklahoma last year, when warnings an hour or more in advance are achievable.

“I am gratified that my colleagues in the House on both sides of the aisle have supported the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act.  As a freshman Representative, it is an honor that my first piece of legislation to receive a floor vote will have such a vital impact on Oklahoma and America.  I am also gratified that it advances deployment of a technology I used in my career as a Navy pilot.”

The legislation was cosponsored by the entire bipartisan membership of the Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.  The next step is consideration in the Senate.

Graphic shows 56 years of tornado tracks

(click on the picture to view in a larger size)

Blogger John Nelson put together this graphic, featuring 56 years of tornado tracks, shaded by Fujita Scale intensity. Weather nuts like me will appreciate this!