Tornado Season 2011

This year has been a remarkable year for tornadoes. More than 500 people have died and more than 1,000 have been confirmed tornadoes so far this season.

From Joplin, Missouri, through the Wabash Valley and most recently in Springfield, Massachusetts, we find a clear path of devastation.

Many wonder, "Why?"

There is no simple answer, but two factors stand out clearly.

The first is that tornadoes have hit more heavily populated areas than in years past leading to more injuries and deaths.

The second is the position of the jet stream, separating cooler air from warmer air. The jet stream contributes a lot to severe storm development.

Kevin Orpurt demonstrates, “Here's how the jet stream works in our atmosphere. Think of a cup of water as being our atmosphere. I'm going to put a straw in the cup and I'm going to blow across this straw. That represents the fast wind of the jet stream on the atmosphere. The same thing happens with our atmosphere. The jet stream provides a lot of lift that can make some very strong storms.” (Click play on the video to watch the demonstration.

This year appears to fall in a roughly 50-year pattern of high tornado activity. I don't know anyone who will mind waiting another 50 years for a year like this one.