Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Flickr/Denise_Rowlands
weird weather

It's tornado season in the States but (weirdly) there are no tornadoes

There have been none in March so far – and that’s the first time that’s happened in 50 years.

WITH ONLY ABOUT two-dozen twisters recorded so far this year during a period when 100 or more are typical, the US appears to be in a tornado drought.

Meteorologists say that cool, stable air is preventing the ingredients of the violent storms from coming together.

No US tornadoes have been reported so far in March, when tornado season often begins ramping up for parts of the country. The last time the US had no twisters in March was nearly 50 years ago.

Forecasters at the prediction centre reported earlier this week that since the beginning of the year, it has issued only four tornado watches and no severe thunderstorm watches.

This is less than 10% of the average 52 tornado watches issued by mid-March. The NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Florida hasn’t issued a watch in March, something that’s never happened.

“Every day that goes by is quite remarkable (because) we’re normally seeing very active day-to-day weather somewhere in the country,” said NOAA’s Greg Carbin. “Four watches is also unprecedented.”

Tornado Drought The remains of houses in Moore, Oklahoma following a 2013 tornado. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Even in tornado-prone Oklahoma, the dominant weather pattern of cold, stable air that prevents a tornado’s ingredients from coming together means the state is again starting storm season in sluggish fashion, a repeat of the year before, said state climatologist Gary McManus.

“We haven’t had the prime conditions here in Tornado Alley because the predominant weather pattern doesn’t lend itself to severe weather,” McManus said. “Not only are we not seeing the tornadoes, we’re not seeing the supercell storm systems that spawn these tornadoes.”

Atmospheric scientist Adam Houston of cautioned that with spring just starting, so too is the peak time for tornadoes, and conditions are likely to change. For example, it was May when twisters raked the Oklahoma City suburbs of Moore and El Reno during a two-week period in 2013, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds more.

“January and February are not active months, so (the tornado drought) hasn’t been particularly surprising,” he said. “If we’re having this conversation in June, then there would be something substantial here.”

Read: Video captures small tornado sweeping through Los Angeles neighbourhood >

Read: “It’s chaos”: At least 10 killed as powerful tornadoes tear across southern US >

Author
Associated Foreign Press
Your Voice
Readers Comments
7
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.