The USA’s infamous “Tornado Alley” may be shifting to the east. Over the past four decades, researchers in a new study found that tornadoes have increased over a large swath of the Midwest and Southeast, including what has been referred to as “Dixie Alley.”.
Researchers say the shift eastward is being caused by the creeping of drier, desert air farther eastward in the Plains states. In Tornado Alley, the boundary between dry, desert air and warm, moist Gulf of Mexico air is famously called the Dry Line. That’s where much of the severe weather originates.
One source claimed that wICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — This weekend’s storm system has some asking if “Tornado Alley” is shifting east of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas. The term was coined decades ago and.
Here is what we ran into. it’s early yet, but one explanation for the eastward shift may involve a “cap” or “lid” on the atmosphere — you may have heard us talk about it during severe storm risk days. It’s a layer of warm air thousands of feet up that can really inhibit storm development — but once that cap breaks, it’s off to the races.
Is Tornado Alley Moving?
Tornado Alley is moving. TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Tornadoes are perhaps the ultimate visual example of nature’s fury in the U. S, with an average of over 1000 per year nationwide.
One way to consider this is tornadoes are common in Tornado Alley because of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. In spring, a strong westerly jet stream flows across the Alley, creating instability and a trough of low pressure that draws warm, moist air in from the Gulf. Why do so many tornadoes occur in Tornado Alley?
What is the weather like in Tornado Alley?
Find a cellar or a room without windows on the lowest floor, such as a closet room or bathroom. Avoid windows as the glass can shatter and cause injury. Try to get beneath a sturdy object, such as a desk or table. Cover yourself with a blanket or mattress, or anything protective you can find, like coats and jackets. , and more items.
And, in Midwestern-Southeastern states, excluding Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas — also known as “tornado alley” — December tornadoes increased to 189 twisters, up 78% from 106. The NOAA tornado data has limitations, said Jana Houser, a professor of.
While most people associate intense tornado outbreaks with spring, weather experts say both the timing and location may be changing and even fewer hit the nation’s traditional “tornado alley” — Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
When one thinks of dangerous weather, “tornado alley” might come to mind — a strip of real estate running from Texas and Oklahoma through Kansas and Nebraska, home to violent twisters that have captivated minds and dominated folklore for decades. Support our journalism., and subscribe today.
Are tornadoes getting stronger in the southwest?
Gensini says that cap has shown signs of getting stronger in the desert Southwest, and may account for that tornado trend. Another event that happens every 2 to 7 years could explain temporary shifts on a smaller time scale.
Should we ignore EF-0 tornadoes?
Ignoring EF-0 tornadoes reveals another interesting baseline. As Dr. Gensini explains it, “If you toss out these weak tornadoes that maybe tear off a couple shingles, knock down a tree or two and focus on the strongest what you’ll see through time is that the number of tornadoes we get in the United States every year has remained very constant.”.