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Tornadoes, climate change and why Dixie is the new Tornado Alley

Studies do show tornadoes getting more frequent, more intense and more likely to come in swarms... What’s interesting is that despite that increase, the per capita death toll from tornadoes has actually gone down in the latter half of the past 100 years. So, as bad as these new outbreaks are, science and technology are saving lives at a faster rate than storms are killing people. Scientists can now anticipate and forecast areas where tornadoes may develop. If you look at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center website, you’ll see eight-day outlooks now. That’s based on scientific knowledge and technology able to target where conditions conducive to tornadoes are developing. People also know what to…

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Articles of Interest

Tornadoes, explained

Tornadoes are vertical funnels of rapidly spinning air. Their winds may top 250 miles an hour and can clear a pathway a mile wide and 50 miles long. Also known as twisters, tornadoes are born in thunderstorms and are often accompanied by hail. Giant, persistent thunderstorms called supercells spawn the most destructive tornadoes. These violent storms occur around the world, but the United States is a major hotspot with about a thousand tornadoes every year.

How and Why Do Violent Tornadoes Form?

Scientists hope new technology and computing power will help them understand destructive twisters

How poison-related injuries become common following tornadoes, hurricanes

Often, people only think about physical injuries, such as cuts and scrapes from cleaning up debris after a tornado, but victims of tornadoes commonly suffer from poison-related injuries.

How to stay safe from tornadoes

Tornadoes are one of nature's most powerful and destructive forces. Here's some advice on what a tornado is, how to prepare for one, and what to do if you're caught in a twister's path.

Something weird is happening with tornadoes

“Given the trend toward increasing tornadoes in areas outside the traditional ‘tornado alley,’” Houser says, “people need to be on their guard in areas that may not have normally expected to see tornadoes.“

Staying Safe During a Tornado: What You Need to Know

When asked what his main piece of advice would be for those who are under a tornado warning, John Moore, III, a public affairs specialist and meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Weather Service, said people must “take shelter immediately—get to your safe place.”

The Aftermath of a Tornado

Since tornadoes are often spawned from thunderstorms, there is usually a heavy downpour of rain after the tornado passes, even though there may be no rain present during the actual tornado. Flooding is a very real possibility. There may also be damaging hail. Often, electrical power lines are downed and gas lines may be leaking. Broken limbs, glass, and other debris may litter the ground, creating further hazards. Is it safe to go outside?

The medical impact of tornadoes in North America

North America suffers some of the most severe tornado disasters of any location on the planet. Significant injury and economic impact may result from these storms, particularly in rural areas.

The people displaced by tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters tell a story of vulnerability and recovery challenges in America

People often think of disasters as great equalizers. After all, a tornado, wildfire or hurricane doesn’t discriminate against those in its path. But the consequences for those affected are not “one-size-fits-all.”

Tornadoes and Severe Storms

Tornadoes are outgrowths of powerful thunderstorms that appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds. They extend from a thunderstorm to the ground with violent winds that average 30 miles per hour. Also, they can vary in speed dramatically from being stationary to 70 miles per hour. With a loud roar that sounds similar to a freight train, tornadoes in the United States typically are 500 feet across and travel on the ground for five miles

Tornadoes and The Terrifying, Teachable Moments for Hospital Emergency Managers

We think of places within Tornado Alley like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas as the top areas of concern. Yet, during 2023, Illinois saw the most tornados with 136. Alabama followed up with 101. Ohio broke into the top 10 with a recording of 53. Average yearly counts for Pennsylvania (18), Michigan (15), New York (9), Maryland (9), and West Virginia (3) show there’s a diminished risk but certainly a lingering threat.

Resources

CDC

Although nothing can be done to prevent tornadoes, there are actions you can take to protect your health and safety.

National Weather Service

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Tornadoes can occur at any time of day or night and at any time of the year. Although tornadoes are most common in the Central Plains and the southeastern United States, they have been reported in all 50 states.