A lot of speculation has been made about where Medford would be if it were real. It can be approximated by clues throughout the series. It's in east Texas, but far enough from Houston to make the trip a burden. During this episode, "Angelina County" was mentioned in the tornado alert on the Coopers' TV. This would suggest Lufkin, Texas, whose location, size and population would be very similar to Medford.

The Tornado Warning shown on TV was delivered over the Emergency Alert System, which wouldn't be created and put in use until 1997. In 1989, such a warning would have been delivered over the Emergency Broadcast System, which would break into programming with a tone, not a buzzing sound.

At the end credits we can read CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS #587

If you were troubled that a Ramones cover song from 1993 was on the radio in the comic book store even though the show is set in 1989, I understand. Normally we would never do something like that, but the truth is I got excited by the lyrics "Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm" and how they foreshadowed the tornado. I also liked the rebellious tone the Ramones set in a store that Mary felt inappropriate for Sheldon. ... If you're also wondering how a Joey Ramone cover from 2002 got in the end, I don't know... he's from Queens and so am I - what do you want from me?

Features Rabbit Fire (1951)