[pixl97]

Ya because people have to go to work and such. I've been in countless tornado watches and days that could have spawned a tornado. Some years this covers a significant amount of spring. It's difficult to always maintain an eye on that.

And I've been involved in tornadoes on days where there was zero risk of the event. Surprise you're getting a tornado out of a totally random storm that was not predicted.

[jasonwatkinspdx]

So much this. Where I grew up in Kansas it can be bluebird skies in every direction with a clear weather forecast at 3pm and by 5pm it's nothing but darkness and hail.

Tornado alley is where warm air from the gulf collides into cold air coming from the NW. The line where these collide shifts around. Storms can form very unpredictably and rapidly.

On the one hand it's awe inspiring to see a massive thunderhead materialize out of nowhere in just a couple hours. On the other it means what the other commenter is saying is very misleading. Texas, where the other commenter is apparently from, is at the southern end of tornado alley and I believe not quite as dynamic, which may explain their attitude somewhat.