http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/tornadotrend.jpg
Severe tornadoes reached their peak in the 1970s, when CO2 levels were well below Hansen’s safe level of 350 ppm. On April 3, 1974 – 163 tornadoes struck thirteen states, a few weeks before Nixon resigned.
On March 18, 1925 a single tornado traversed 219 miles across three states and killed at least 700 people.
Ouch! But wait! ……Don’t most tornadoes get their power from hurricanes? Is there a corollary or do we file this under more stuff we don’t understand?
Suyts:
Not really as there is a spring tornado season. The power comes from temperature extremes. A low pressure system associated with a cold front will draw warm moist air from the gulf where the warm air and the cold air meet the extreme differences provide the power for the tornadoes like the system that crossed the country last week with high winds and tornadoes.
April 3rd is a bit early for Hurricane season but I am certain the NWS will consider extending the season.
Thanks Mike! You explained plainly what I was thinking yet, due to beer, could not articulate. What most of us Kansans know, tornadoes happen when hot and cold come together. What most don’t know, is that it is antithesis energy coming together. What is painfully obvious to me, is that Kelvins are woefully inadequate and wrong on its premise. lol, a couple of more beers and I’ll get this!
Yes, the lines do look longer before 1975 when the “modern global warming era” began.
Unfortunately the colder weather will cause more tornadoes in the next couple of years and this will probably cause some AGW yelling CO2. Hopefully AGW will continue to dies it’s painfully slow death and common sense will return to science.
That graph has an odd similarity to the sunspot cycle but then again maybe i’m just seeing things.
Steve,
Is there any compelling science to suggest that the frequency of strong tornadoes have or should have increased by 2010?
I’m not aware of any so I’m genuinely interested.