Severe thunderstorm warnings are official weather alerts issued when a storm is capable of producing damaging winds, large hail or a tornado threat, and they are broadcast on television and radio so people can take shelter. The short alert tones and formal announcement style have become instantly recognisable from years of emergency broadcasts. Online, creators reuse brief warning clips to add realism to storm footage, weather explainers and news-style parodies, because listeners immediately understand the seriousness without needing any extra context.