Tornadoes Are Hitting In Clusters More Often
- 10 years ago
Although a lot of devastating tornadoes have been reported recently, about the same number of twisters have happened during all of the past few decades. According to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tornadoes in America are grouping together to cause more damage.
The devastation that a tornado leaves in its path is immense, and while it appears that many more have occurred recently, the annual number of larger twisters today is almost the same as the 1950’s.
What has changed, according to a recent study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is that their overall daily frequency has decreased, but more are forming on the same day.
The researchers excluded the weakest tornadoes, known as EF0, and concentrated on those rated EF1 to EF5 in strength. 1973 for example, saw 187 days of tornadoes, while 2011 only experienced 110 days, but with more than 30 occurring on 9 of those days.
Today about 20% of twisters in the US occur on just 3 days of the year.
Harold Brooks, a research meteorologist with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma is quoted as saying: “Concentrating tornado damage on fewer days, but increasing the total damage on those days, has implications for people who respond, such as emergency managers and insurance interests.”
Experts still aren’t sure what is causing the change in tornado behavior, but some speculate that climate change might be playing a role.
The devastation that a tornado leaves in its path is immense, and while it appears that many more have occurred recently, the annual number of larger twisters today is almost the same as the 1950’s.
What has changed, according to a recent study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is that their overall daily frequency has decreased, but more are forming on the same day.
The researchers excluded the weakest tornadoes, known as EF0, and concentrated on those rated EF1 to EF5 in strength. 1973 for example, saw 187 days of tornadoes, while 2011 only experienced 110 days, but with more than 30 occurring on 9 of those days.
Today about 20% of twisters in the US occur on just 3 days of the year.
Harold Brooks, a research meteorologist with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma is quoted as saying: “Concentrating tornado damage on fewer days, but increasing the total damage on those days, has implications for people who respond, such as emergency managers and insurance interests.”
Experts still aren’t sure what is causing the change in tornado behavior, but some speculate that climate change might be playing a role.