🌡️ This winter has been a record-breaker, with unprecedented warmth shaking things up across the U.S. But with the heat comes trouble! Tornado experts say that this unusual warmth provided the key ingredient for the deadly tornadoes 🌪️ and damaging gorilla hail 🦍⛈️ that slammed into parts of the Midwest on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tragically, at least three people lost their lives during Thursday's tornado outbreak in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Arkansas. And just a day before, Kansas was pelted with large hail. While it's a bit early—these storms usually hit in April or May—meteorologists aren't too surprised. They point out that the hottest winter on record, both in the U.S. and globally, set the stage for these severe weather events.
\"In order to get severe storms this far north this time of year, it's got to be warm,\" said Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University.
Tornado Formation 101 🌪️📚
So, what's behind these powerful storms? According to Gensini and National Severe Storms Laboratory scientist Harold Brooks, you need two key ingredients: wind shear 💨 and instability 🌡️.
Reference(s):
What is the key ingredient for Midwest killer tornadoes in the U.S.?
cgtn.com
