Midwestern and Southeastern Tornado Outbreak December 2021
A major tornado outbreak of at least 50 tornadoes struck America's Heartland the night of December 10, including at least one long track tornado that may have been on the ground for more than 200 miles across four states. Homes and businesses were destroyed across eight states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee, as well as Kentucky where the devastation was most severe. It's likely that at least 100 people died. There is increasing evidence linking climate change to the severe weather that gives rise to tornadoes and emerging research suggests there may be a link between warming and large tornado outbreaks, particularly in the southeast U.S. in the winter months. Additionally, Tornado Alley is shifting east, away from Kansas and Oklahoma toward the states hit Friday night.
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Atlantic tropical cyclones downscaled from climate reanalyses show increasing activity over past 150 years
Study key findings & significance
- Climate modeling shows that North Atlantic hurricanes have increased in frequency over the last 150 years, similar to what historical records have shown.
- In recent years, scientists have questioned whether the observed upward trend in Atlantic hurricane frequency is a reflection of reality, or simply an artifact of lopsided record-keeping.
- The study also found that the frequency of tropical cyclones globally has not changed significantly in the last 150 years.