Taylor, AL orcid.org/0000-0002-8949-1234, Kause, A orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-2406, Summers, B orcid.org/0000-0002-9294-0088 et al. (1 more author) (2019) Preparing for Doris: Exploring Public Responses to Impact-Based Weather Warnings in the United Kingdom. Weather, Climate, and Society, 11 (4). pp. 713-729. ISSN 1948-8327
Abstract
In the UK, the Met Office issues regionally calibrated impact-based weather warnings. These aim to reduce harm to people and property. To decrease risk from severe weather, it is important to understand how members of the UK public interpret and act on these warnings. This paper addresses this through a post-event survey (n=552) conducted following Storm Doris, a 2017 winter storm during which wind warnings were issued across much of the UK. Survey questions examined 1) understanding of impact-based wind warnings; 2) interpretation of local warning level; 3) predictors of perceived local risk (likelihood, impact severity, concern) implied by warnings; 4) predictors of trust in the forecast; and 5) predictors of recalled and anticipated action. Our findings indicate that UK residents generally understand that weather warnings are based on potential weather impacts, although many do not realize warnings are regionally calibrated. We also find that while local warning levels are rarely underestimated, they may sometimes be overestimated. Institutional trust in the Met Office and perceived vulnerability to weather predict both perceived risk and behavioral response, while warning “understandability” is linked to greater trust in the forecast. Strikingly, while differences in local warning levels influenced risk perception, they did not affect recalled or intended behavioral response. This study highlights the importance of institutional trust in the effective communication of severe weather warnings, and a need for education on impact-based weather warnings. Above all, it demonstrates the need for further exploration of the effect of weather warnings on protective behavior.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2019 American Meteorological Society. Permission to use figures, tables, and brief excerpts from this work in scientific and educational works is hereby granted provided that the source is acknowledged. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 USC §108) does not require the AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, requires written permission or a license from the AMS. All AMS journals and monograph publications are registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (http://www.copyright.com). Questions about permission to use materials for which AMS holds the copyright can also be directed to permissions@ametsoc.org. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement, available on the AMS website (http://www.ametsoc.org/CopyrightInformation). |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) > Management Division Decision Research (LUBS) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2019 10:44 |
Last Modified: | 06 Dec 2019 01:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Meteorological Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1175/WCAS-D-18-0132.1 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:146945 |