Winter tornado threat persists as experts warn of seasonal risks

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Transcript

00:00Tornadoes are complex phenomena.

00:03We don't have all the answers to why they form,

00:06why they sustain themselves, and why they die

00:09and can have wind speeds of 60 miles an hour

00:13to as much as 300 miles an hour.

00:15You might not associate the holiday season with images like these.

00:22Tornado season winds down after the summer months,

00:25but that doesn't mean the danger's past.

00:27Just look at the destruction left behind in Tennessee in December of 2023,

00:32and experts predict we'll see an average of 28 tornadoes this December.

00:37The United States has more tornadoes and greater tornado density

00:40than any place in the world.

00:42So we have a very unique geography in the United States.

00:45We have the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Western Caribbean

00:47that brings that moisture up into the United States,

00:51which is a critical ingredient for thunderstorm formation.

00:55And then we got the mountains on the west side,

00:57and they create a unique environment

01:00that's supportive of very strong instability or energy for thunderstorms.

01:04The unique environment of the U.S.

01:06comes down to atmospheric pressure.

01:08The lower it is, the stronger a storm can be.

01:12Low-pressure systems draw air in, creating those rains and winds,

01:16ultimately the vortex that creates a funnel cloud.

01:19Tornado outbreaks typically occur between February and June,

01:22but a powerful low-pressure area combined with unusually warm air

01:26is all it takes for a winter twister.

01:28Most tornadoes are short-lived, some only on the order of minutes,

01:33maybe even less than that, and might not travel that far.

01:36In other cases, particularly during the cool seasons,

01:39those tornadoes tend to move very fast.

01:41While a tornado is dangerous any time of the year,

01:44winter conditions can add serious complications.

01:47The National Weather Service has some advice if you find yourself in the path of one.

01:50Bundle up before taking shelter,

01:53restock your shelter space for winter weather,

01:56keep paths clear,

01:58and plan for power outages.

02:00The December 2023 tornado outbreak killed seven people and injured 71.

02:04For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Henry.