Tornado Risk Increase
There’s increasing evidence linking global warming to changes in the severe weather that gives rise to tornadoes. The thunderstorms that give rise to tornadoes occur to stabilize the atmosphere, and global warming can increase instability. Observational data shows there has been a subtle but detectable increase in tornado risk over the past few decades due to several factors including: a rise in the number of tornadoes in large tornado outbreaks, a shift in the time of year they occur, and changes in jet stream behavior that favor severe thunderstorms.
Read MoreApr 1, 2020 | Washington Post
Abnormally warm Gulf of Mexico could intensify the upcoming tornado and hurricane seasons
Jan 13, 2020 | Weather Underground
Sprawling Storm Turns Deadly with Tornadoes, Flooding, Downburst Winds
Jan 9, 2020 | Environment + Energy Leader
Unusual Dallas Tornado Signals New Resiliency Challenge
Jan 9, 2020 | American Meteorological Society
Vulnerability due to Nocturnal Tornadoes
Jan 9, 2020 | Geophysical Research Letters
Peak tornado activity is occurring earlier in the heart of “Tornado Alley”
Mar 22, 2019 | Journal of Climate
Surface-Based Convective Potential in the Contiguous United States in a Business-as-Usual Future Climate
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.