WHEN

TORNADOES STRIKE
2.03 The tornado that
struck Tuscaloosa,
On April 25–28, 2011, a huge number of tornadoes hit the southern United Alabama, in April
States, striking areas like Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. In 2011 left thousands
fact, more violent tornadoes struck the United States in April 2011 than in any of people homeless.
A
other month on record. On April 27—its worst day—there were more than 120
separate twisters. They moved through six states and killed at least 316 people
on that day alone.
THE “PERFECT STORM”
Most tornadoes in the United States occur in a region called Tornado
Alley, between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico. Warm, wet air
B from the Gulf of Mexico collides with the cold, dry mountain air, creating
ideal conditions for a storm. Sometimes, “perfect storm” conditions lead to
extremely violent tornadoes.
The “perfect storm” conditions that occurred in April 2011 gave birth to a
monster twister in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tornadoes usually touch the ground
for only a few miles before they die. The Tuscaloosa tornado, however, stayed
on the ground for an unusually long time. It traveled approximately 300 miles
C
(482 kilometers) across a region extending from Alabama to Georgia, with
winds of over 260 mph (418 kph). “There were no limitations,” said tornado
expert and storm chaser Tim Samaras.1 “It went absolutely crazy. It had
nothing but hundreds of miles to grow and develop.”
1
Sadly, Tim Samaras was killed by a tornado in May 2013.

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 CONFLICTING THEORIES
What caused the outbreak of violent tornadoes in 2011? Experts aren’t sure.
Some think warmer-than-normal water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico—a
result of global warming—were the cause. Russell Schneider, director of the U.S.
D Storm Prediction Center, thinks the outbreak occurred largely because of a weather
pattern called “La Niña.” La Niña occurs when cold water in the Pacific Ocean rises
to the surface off the coast of South America. This can also affect the climate in the
United States and create more thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Pablo Saide, a scientist at the University of Iowa, has another theory. He
believes that fires in Central America may be part of the cause. These fires
are set every year to clear land for farming. Smoke drifting2 into the United
E States raises air temperature, which can lead to cloud formation and irregular
wind patterns—common risk factors for tornadoes. “We’re not saying that the
outbreak happened because of the smoke,” says Saide. “We’re saying that, given
the conditions already in place, the smoke intensified the tornadoes.”
Scientists around the world continue to gather data about tornadoes. One
day, their research will help us to better understand the conditions that cause
F violent tornadoes to form. Eventually, we may be able to predict how strong
they will be and where they will hit, and take preventive measures to minimize
loss of life.
 Tornadoes may occur 2
When something drifts somewhere, it is carried there by the movement of wind or water.
wherever warm,
moist air collides
with cool, dry air.

ANTARCTICA

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