Forecaster warns of tornado 'threat area' expansion
Climate change factors may have increased the possibility of severe weather in major markets.
By
Thomas Leffler, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Mar 19, 2022 4:20 PM EST
|
Updated Mar 19, 2022 4:20 PM EST
Tornadoes have hit high-rises before, like in Fort Worth in 2000, and it's most likely just a matter of time before it happens again in another city.
Tornadoes are always a key severe weather event to watch out for and are typical of the Southeast and Midwest regions during the spring and summertime. However, there are new warnings that even more “threat areas” could be on the horizon.
Per the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center there have been 18 major downtown districts hit with tornadoes since 1970. One of these was a Fort Worth, Texas, tornado, which “transformed” the city skyline when it tore up buildings on March 28, 2000. Two lives were lost during the severe weather and 80 suffered injuries.
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At the time, the tornado was categorized with F-2 strength, blowing thousands of windows off of 35-story building The Tower (formerly Bank One Tower). Other high-rises in the Fort Worth area also had windows blown out due to the event, and the 6-story Cash America building was nearly destroyed.
In this March 29, 2000 file photo, the Calvary Cathedral sits damaged following a tornado west of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Insurance Council of Texas records show the tornado that killed two people in Fort Worth was the 21st costliest storm in state history. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
Over 20 years after the deadly tornado, one AccuWeather forecaster states that future incidents may hit hard in other major markets. AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said that tornado season and tornado threat areas are “evolving” due to changes in climate.
“The climate is warming,” Pastelok said. “Since 1997, we’ve seen the jumps, we’ve seen the numbers, we’ve seen the data. So if you’re warming the surface, you’re extending out the seasonal changes, you’re extending out the warm season. And so (there are) more opportunities for severe weather and tornadoes.”
A more recent instance of a tornado hitting a major city was in Nashville, Tennessee, in March of 2020. The city was one of many in Tennessee hit by the fierce weather, featuring winds up to 175 miles per hour.
A man walks through storm debris following a deadly tornado Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. The event serves as a reminder that major markets are not prone to the severe weather. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Pastelok then spoke on how to best prepare to deal with an approaching tornado event, particularly for those living in high-rises like the ones torn apart in Fort Worth. For residents of high-rises, the two key points of advice are to take tornado warnings seriously, as well as making sure to get to an interior room on a lower floor and staying away from windows. Tornadoes striking at night adds to the challenge, as previous AccuWeather reporting states, prompting the need to have a plan in place when the severe event occurs.
For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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News / Weather News
Forecaster warns of tornado 'threat area' expansion
Climate change factors may have increased the possibility of severe weather in major markets.
By Thomas Leffler, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Mar 19, 2022 4:20 PM EST | Updated Mar 19, 2022 4:20 PM EST
Tornadoes have hit high-rises before, like in Fort Worth in 2000, and it's most likely just a matter of time before it happens again in another city.
Tornadoes are always a key severe weather event to watch out for and are typical of the Southeast and Midwest regions during the spring and summertime. However, there are new warnings that even more “threat areas” could be on the horizon.
Per the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center there have been 18 major downtown districts hit with tornadoes since 1970. One of these was a Fort Worth, Texas, tornado, which “transformed” the city skyline when it tore up buildings on March 28, 2000. Two lives were lost during the severe weather and 80 suffered injuries.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
At the time, the tornado was categorized with F-2 strength, blowing thousands of windows off of 35-story building The Tower (formerly Bank One Tower). Other high-rises in the Fort Worth area also had windows blown out due to the event, and the 6-story Cash America building was nearly destroyed.
In this March 29, 2000 file photo, the Calvary Cathedral sits damaged following a tornado west of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Insurance Council of Texas records show the tornado that killed two people in Fort Worth was the 21st costliest storm in state history. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
Over 20 years after the deadly tornado, one AccuWeather forecaster states that future incidents may hit hard in other major markets. AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said that tornado season and tornado threat areas are “evolving” due to changes in climate.
“The climate is warming,” Pastelok said. “Since 1997, we’ve seen the jumps, we’ve seen the numbers, we’ve seen the data. So if you’re warming the surface, you’re extending out the seasonal changes, you’re extending out the warm season. And so (there are) more opportunities for severe weather and tornadoes.”
A more recent instance of a tornado hitting a major city was in Nashville, Tennessee, in March of 2020. The city was one of many in Tennessee hit by the fierce weather, featuring winds up to 175 miles per hour.
A man walks through storm debris following a deadly tornado Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. The event serves as a reminder that major markets are not prone to the severe weather. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Pastelok then spoke on how to best prepare to deal with an approaching tornado event, particularly for those living in high-rises like the ones torn apart in Fort Worth. For residents of high-rises, the two key points of advice are to take tornado warnings seriously, as well as making sure to get to an interior room on a lower floor and staying away from windows. Tornadoes striking at night adds to the challenge, as previous AccuWeather reporting states, prompting the need to have a plan in place when the severe event occurs.
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For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
Report a Typo