Scientists Believe Tornado Patterns are Changing

Is climate change changing tornado patterns?  Some scientists believe the answer is a resounding yes.  The reason is that they are occurring in unusual places and at unusual times of the year compared to historical trends.

Indicators of Unusual Tornado Patterns

The most recent indicator that suggests a shift in typical tornado patterns occurred in October 2019 in Dallas.  The tornado in question resulted in 65,000 power outages and significantly damaged several local businesses – including a Home Depot that was completely destroyed. 

There are 2 things that make this event particularly unusual.  First, tornados are not common in October.  Second, cities the size of Dallas are rarely impacted.  So unusual was the event that the Washington Post wrote that it seemed like an expansion of tornado alley. 

Scientists believe that global warming may be the culprit for the strange tornado patterns.  The reason is that the trajectory of a tornado is driven by the jet stream, differences in adjacent wind speeds, moisture, and atmospheric instability.  And as global temperatures rise, these underlying conditions are becoming more unstable and unpredictable. 

Obviously, there is not much we can do to mitigate this trend, but what we can do is to make sure that emergency response plans and protocols are as buttoned up as possible to account for what amounts to a greater level of tornado risk.  And as you might imagine, this is more relevant to some utilities versus others.

As of now, most experts do not believe that the changing tornado patterns will have any impact on the northeast region of the U.S., but utilities in the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean could see an increase in unusual activity going forward.    

Obviously, this increases the importance of emergency preparedness.  Changing tornado patterns are not the only risk associated with climate change, so the time is now to review your plans and make sure they are appropriate for the age within which we live.