Tornado warning sirens are outdoor alert systems used in many communities to warn people about severe weather and other emergencies. Online, the sound is widely reused as a shorthand for danger, panic and incoming disaster, especially in meme edits, reaction videos and storm-related clips. Its staying power comes from how recognizable the alarm is even out of context: a few seconds of the wail immediately suggest that something is very wrong. It is often paired with a buzzer or other exaggerated reaction sounds in comedic edits.