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This spring has been an active one for people that live across portions of the Midwest. In fact, this tornado season has been the deadliest one in the last decade. What is causing all of this activity? Is there a reasonable scientific explanation?
Meteorologists and weather experts blame an extremely active winter storm season. Greg Carbin from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was interviewed in an ABC News article found here. Carbin states in the article, "The storm track was very active across the Rockies, into the East Coast, and this active storm track lends itself to more severe weather events. The more severe weather events you have, the more likely you are to see an increase in tornadoes."
According the National Weather Service, tornadoes have killed around 100 people so far this year in the United States. Over Memorial Day weekend, 43 twisters rolled through portions of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Taking another perspective, I have long stated here on the blog that the planet appears to be going through a cooling period. That means that there will be a larger temperature gradient between the equator and the poles. Large temperature differences help fuel active weather patterns. As the warm air flowing northward from the equator interacts with the increasingly cooler air traveling southward from the poles, severe weather takes shape and tornadoes have developed across the center of the country.
Time will tell if this active weather pattern continues, but peak tornado season will soon be winding down across the Plains states. Our focus will next turn toward the Atlantic, with hurricane season officially kicking off this Sunday, June 1st.
June
