This special issue of Weather and Forecasting commemorates the issuance of the first official tornado forecast by U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert C. Miller and Maj. Ernest J. Fawbush associated with the devastating storms that roared through Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on 25 March 1948. As indicated by several of these articles, this pioneering accomplishment was instrumental in advancing the national program to support the protection of life and property from the hazards imposed by tornadoes. A historical account of the scientific and political controversy that characterized the general topic of severe weather prediction prior to the mid-1900s is included. Further, the evolution of technologically advanced observational and research programs to support the detection and prediction of tornadoes is reviewed.
We wish to extend our appreciation to Stephen Corfidi and Gary Grice for initiating and coordinating the activities to announce the special issue, solicit contributions, and interact with the potential authors. We hope you will find this collection of nostalgic articles to be insightful, useful, and inspirational.
