jet stream
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Tornado patterns shift due to climate change, experts advise on preparation
Climate change is altering tornado patterns in the U.S., leading experts to offer new preparation strategies for these unpredictable storms.
In short:
- Tornado season is shifting in location and timing due to climate change, with peaks now seen earlier in the year.
- States like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas are seeing fewer tornadoes, while Tennessee, Georgia, and upper Midwest states are experiencing more.
- Preparation involves staying informed through reliable sources like the National Weather Service and maintaining an emergency kit.
Key quote:
"We expect that the number of days in any given year that are favourable for tornadoes… are going to increase in the future and specifically increase earlier in the season."
— Victor Gensini, associate professor of meteorology at Northern Illinois University
Why this matters:
Research indicates that tornadoes are becoming more frequent and severe in areas outside the traditional Tornado Alley, including parts of the Southeast and Midwest. Factors such as warmer air temperatures and shifting jet streams contribute to these changes, making it more challenging to predict where tornadoes will strike next. This unpredictability poses a substantial risk to residents unfamiliar with tornado protocols, necessitating updated safety measures and public awareness campaigns.
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Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash
Scorching heat and Canada wildfires could be tied to ‘wavy, blocky’ jet stream
Scientists say a closely watched atmospheric pattern — the jet stream — is behind both the Canadian wildfires and the scorching heat in Texas, raising questions about how it shapes extreme weather events and whether climate change is disrupting its flow.
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Video examines issues involving jet stream role in extreme weather
Turn on practically any storm-driven local TV weather forecast these days, and chances are you’ll encounter more and more references to the “jet stream.” But why?
It blows both ways - how wind affects climate change
Throughout the globe, climate change is causing shifts in existing wind systems - with devastating consequences.
Newsletter
How is the jet stream connected to simultaneous heat waves across the globe?
The deadly heat waves that have fueled blazes and caused transport disruptions in Europe, the U.S. and China this month have one thing in common: a peculiar shape in the jet stream dubbed “wavenumber 5.”
What’s behind Europe's heat waves?
This year’s scorching weather is in keeping with a trend. Scientists say a number of factors, including changes in the jet stream, are in play.
Northeast enjoys blissfully mild summer as Plains and South bake
The nice weather in the Northeast has come at a cost. Because it has remained north of the storm track, very little precipitation has fallen. Moderate to severe drought has developed from eastern Connecticut through southern Maine.
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