What sound does a tornado siren make (onomatopoeia)

sounds

I am trying to write a story about a paranormal tornado but don't know what to write to describe the sound of the tornado warning sirens.

I have tried stuff like waaaaaaaah, but it just doesn't feel right for the text

Best Answer

Arguably, all of these qualify as onomatopoeia:

As we get more exotic:

  • I don't know that "keen" (the verb) qualifies as onomatopoeia, but it carries a nice connotation of trauma
  • It's perhaps a bit of a reach, but the sound of bagpipes is described as "skirling," which has onomatopoeic origins
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