Tornadoes: the ultimate manifestation of extreme weather
Without question, tornadoes are the ultimate manifestation of extreme weather. No other weather event is as violent or awe inspiring.
The United States reports more of these storms than any other country in the world and the reason is our unique topography. Christopher Burt in his book “Extreme Weather” says only in North America does a solid land mass stretch from the sub-tropics to the arctic with no mountain barriers to inhibit the mixture of air masses originating from these two regions and this is why most tornadoes, especially the more violent ones , occur in the Great Plains and the Midwest.
On average we see 1,000 of these storms each year, however in recent years the number has been increasing. Some of this is because of better detection, along with more advanced forecasting models and also today everybody has a mobile phone and is more aware when the tornado threat exists.
The good news is the number of deaths from these storms has decreased dramatically in recent decades due to better forecasting and this increased awareness. Our changing climate may not be producing more storms but there does appear to be an increase in stronger and more violent ones.
Last week 22 people were killed in Kentucky when a violent F4 category storm caused extreme devastation along with the deaths.
You have seen the pictures of homes blown off foundations and autos and trucks sent flying through the air. Tornadoes range in severity from an F0 like the one that recently hit in East Finley with winds of 65 mph to the Kentucky storm with winds of over 200 mph. The strongest possible is an F5 with winds of between 261 mph to 318 mph causing incredible damage. You will probably not survive a F5 storm. About a 100 of these storms have occurred since 1900. On May 11, 2024 an F2 tornado visited Finleyville in nearby Washington County with winds in excess of 100 mph.
Warnings provided by our National Weather Service are an important part of today’s forecast and have greatly improved our ability to find shelter and live through a tornado. I find it disheartening to read about the number of Weather Service offices that are now understaffed, including the one in Jackson, Kentucky during the height of the tornado season.
With the opening of the Hurricane season on June 1st we need to think less about tax cuts and more about safety and protection for our citizens.
With proper warnings you can survive most tornadoes. At home, go to the lowest level away from any windows or doors. If no basement, an interior bathroom or closet is a good place. Even a central hallway might offer some protection. Get under a table or workbench and cover yourself with blankets or a mattress. If possible get to a sturdy structure, again away from windows and doors.
If in a car try and drive away and find a sturdy structure. Remember, too, visibility will be zero with falling rain and debris flying through the air.
Above all else, plan ahead. As you finish this article think about your safe place, where will you go, what is your plan and make sure family members all know the plan.