Outdoor warning sirens have long been used in tornado-prone parts of the United States to alert people to take shelter during severe weather, and their distinctive rising wail is now instantly recognised far beyond those communities. Online, the sound is reused as a stock warning effect in storm videos, news clips, weather explainers and dramatic edits, where it signals danger without needing any words. Its staying power comes from that real-world association: listeners do not need context to understand that something serious is approaching.