Millions of Americans Brace for Severe Thunderstorms and Possible Tornadoes in Central US

A large storm system is expected to bring severe thunderstorms to a vast area stretching from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Baltimore over the next few days. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has warned that these thunderstorms could bring tornadoes to some states, potentially affecting tens of millions of Americans.

Kansas and Nebraska are facing the highest risk, with the potential for strong tornadoes. In addition, parts of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Virginia are also at a slight risk of experiencing severe scattered thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and flash flooding.

Areas Most Vulnerable

The storm system is forecasted to move into the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley areas, bringing with it the threat of severe weather and isolated flash flooding. Southern Iowa, Northern Missouri, and Central Illinois are identified as facing the largest threat of significant hail and tornado potential on Tuesday.

Tornado Season and Changes

According to Harold Brooks, a tornado scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory, the midpoint of tornado season is generally considered to be in May. He emphasized that the strongest tornadoes, which often lead to fatalities, typically occur from late April to the middle of May. There has been uncertainty in estimating tornado seasons due to variations from year to year.

Some scientists are of the opinion that tornadoes in the U.S. have been shifting over the past few decades, appearing more frequently in states along the Mississippi River and farther east. The reasons behind this shift are not entirely clear, but one potential factor mentioned by Joe Strus, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, is climate change, which may be causing a shift in precipitation patterns.