There has been a ton of tornado coverage and extreme weather with snow storms in the news this December, and as a company that deals with portable and standby generators that provide emergency power in the events of power outages, we are always taking note. But how rare are tornados in December and is Tornado Alley shifting?
For starters, December typically sees 24 tornados in the Lower 48, according to the National Weather Service. Here as we write, (Dec. 16) there have been 18 tornados to date. So slightly ahead of schedule, but we have 15 days to add or remain above or below average.
Then there's the idea of Tornado Alley shifting? When you look at the data in the graphic above, you can see more tornados have been occurring in the red section since 1985, which is typically near the start of "Dixie Alley." So the shift into Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi and cutback from the western reaches of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas shows it is indeed shifting.
Why has it been shifting? Well, the Western US has been seeing prevailing drought conditions for 40 to 50 years. So as colder, dry air follows the jet stream across the country, it is taking longer for this air to dip down over Colorado and it is actually dropping south, further east than decades ago. This important ingredient then hits warm moist air rising north out of the Gulf of Mexico, but the historical intersecting line has moved and so tornado formation is happening further east according to the data.
So what does this all mean? It means a lot when it comes to deciding where to build your new home or if you are in the new zone, you might want to consider standby and emergency power options. Most standby home generators can withstand winds in the 110-180 MPH range and can supply your home with power when the power gets knocked out. Or if you need power on the go, units like the larger Duromax, Kubota and Generac, can power your home and roll with you if you need to evacuate. Stay safe, informed and prepared.