Someone IN the storm had to send in photos of a tornado before the NWS could get it declared a tornado because it was so understaffed.

#3 | Posted by Sycophant

Tornadoes are identified and classified by different observations. Radar indicated is usually the first and will spark a tornado warning by NWS. The next is spotter confirmed, which will bump the classification and they'll usually update the risk associated with it (tornado watches are red squares on a radar screen, spotter confirmed will be red square with a black outline). Sometimes they'll upgrade if a radar indicated debris ball is observed.

But spotter confirmed is gold standard. Always has been regardless of staffing.

Damage surveys will confirm and classify the intensity for record purposes.

But if a trained spotter or first responder gives confirmation of tornado on the ground, it's merely for grading and records. At that point, it's a confirmed tornado.

The majority of "radar indicated" tornadoes are circulation within the cell with potential to drop a funnel cloud, but they actually don't.

That's why the spotter confirmation is so valuable.