The Unthinkable May Happen Sooner Than You Think!

Are You Ready

We are officially in tornado season, and the alarms have gone off multiple times for some of you. For many of us, this is a part of life. Some have noticed that these finger-of-god-like storms have increased in frequency and strength.

The basics of tornado preparedness are simple. Anyone raised or living long in the plains, the corn belt, or the middle of the country knows to listen for the alarms, get to the basement or shelter, and have supplies of water, batteries, and other necessities. Still, the compulsion to run from the storm is there, as much as the compulsion some feel to chase these deadly storms and get those magic images.

What causes a tornado?

Tornadoes happen when warm and humid air collides with cold and dry air. Warm and humid air rises while the cool air falls inside thunderstorms. This can cause the spinning of air currents. They turn from horizontal to vertical and drop from the clouds. That's the birth of a tornado.

When strong winds and thunderstorms collide, the raw power of weather comes together and can grow into one of the most destructive weather phenomena experienced by humans. There are five recognized levels of tornado, from EF-1 to EF-5, and they all can cause varying degrees of damage depending on the tornado and the location it touches down. From towns to entire residential neighborhoods, tornadoes cause hundreds of millions in damages, not to mention the loss of life.

While tornadoes can happen anywhere in the world, the Great Plains of the United States has been the epicenter of more tornadoes than anywhere else. Tornado Alley, which was once known as Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Louisiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa annually sees the majority of the approximately 1200 tornadoes that hit the United States each year.

Much like the global weather changes, Tornado Alley has changed as well. Tornado Alley states now include Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Kansas. As global climates continue to feel the upheaval of climate change, it's believable that the spread of tornado activity will continue for the foreseeable future.

These states are often ravaged by storm fronts in the spring and into the summer, which include the collision of warm and cold air, and cause these monster storms to occur.

The power of these tornadoes has been documented and there is what's known as the Fujita Scale.

EF-1

Wind speeds = 85-110 MPH, and are what 33% of tornadoes are measured as. They cause moderate damage, leave small trees uprooted, and shingles from roofs are often sucked off.

EF-2

Wind speeds = 111-135 MPH, and account for 8.5% of tornadoes. The damage is significant, medium-sized trees are uprooted, and entire roofs are ripped from frame houses.

EF-3

Wind speeds = 136-165 MPH and account for 2.18% of tornadoes. The damage is severe and in an EF-3, all trees are uprooted, and roofs and outer walls are destroyed on frame homes.

EF-4

Wind speeds = 166-200 MPH and EF-4s are approximately .46% of tornadoes. EF-4s cause devastating damage. Trees are partially debarked and homes are destroyed.

EF-5

The wind speeds in an EF-5 storm are greater than 200 miles per hour. The damage is incredible and both frame and brick homes are swept away.

The Unthinkable might happen as early as this year. What's the unthinkable?

When it comes to storms, particularly tornadoes, there's the horror of what's next and scientists have considered the possibilities. An EF-6 tornado is possible.

EF6s would be at the top of the Fujita scale with a windspeed of over 300 miles per hour. The EF6 could reach 3 or more miles in width, and become the tallest tornadoes in history. From space, the storm would cover the country, obscuring the view of astronauts more than EF5s and Cat 5 hurricanes.

As global climate change continues, what's next is truly scary. Tornadoes are already one of the most terrifying catastrophes in the world, claim lives, and cause billions in damages.