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US Drought Brings A Surprise Benefit: No Tornados (cnn.com)

Slashdot reader turkeydance tipped us off to news that America hasn't had a single tornado in November, even though last year it experienced 99, and averages 58 every November. CNN reports: Drought is overwhelming Southeastern states this fall, and temperatures have soared, depleting ground moisture. Storms need moist air to develop, and the lack of moisture this fall has inhibited storm development both for the much needed rain and the formation of supercell storms capable of producing tornadoes. Precipitation has been near or at zero for weeks in the region. The last measurable day of rain in Birmingham, Alabama, was September 18... As a result, wildfires have become the main disaster threat this fall. The last five years have all seen a below-average number of tornados, and between 2012 and 2014 the U.S. saw fewer tornadoes than any previous three-year stretch.

7 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry. It's my fault by reboot246 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I live just outside of Birmingham, AL. Back on September 18th I bought the best umbrella I've ever owned. It works so well that it won't let rain come within a hundred miles of me.

    That's the honest truth and I don't know what to do. I really want to keep the umbrella, but my yard needs rain. The grass crunches when I walk across the yard. It's drier than my ex-wife.

  2. Re:Will climate activists argue... by GrumpySteen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Are you going to argue that the southeast shouldn't have rain and claim that becoming a lifeless desert is preferable to the possibility of more frequent/severe tornadoes?

    Or are you just going continue to make up more ridiculous strawman arguments that you wish climate activists would make because it would make them easier to dismiss?

  3. Re:Will climate activists argue... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will climate activists blame the drought on global warming and try to argue that we should have more frequent/severe tornadoes?

    That's the way I understand it.

    See I study climate science. I read what the conservative media says about what the liberal media says about what the politicians say about what the climate scientist say - so, I am an expert.

    And what the consensus is that climate is bad. We need to live in a climate free World.

  4. Re:Everything is connected to everything else by gtall · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't think we need to bring baked beans into this.

  5. Re:Will climate activists argue... by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 3, Informative

    The annual number of tornadoes and the number of strong tornadoes are both trending down. The data doesn't lie.

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  6. Re:Law of Averages by AK+Marc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Back before humans controlled the rivers, that'd be enough. The floods would fill the swamps, and the swamps would be wet until the next flood. Now, with levees and canals, the floods are directed to the ocean, so the ground doesn't get the water, the ocean does. Then we complain the ground is dry. Like we didn't know how rain works.

  7. Re:Will climate activists argue... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Will climate activists blame the drought on global warming and try to argue that we should have more frequent/severe tornadoes?

    People need to learn to differentiate between local, regional, and global phenomena. Not every out-of-the-ordinary event is related to climate change. Events which deviate far from the norm are probably NOT related to anthropogenic global warming.

    During this same period of severe southeastern drought, most of the western U.S. has been significantly wetter than normal. Many places have experienced 200-400% of their typical rainfall.

    Also during this same period... Most of the U.S. (both west and east) has been warmer than normal; but much of northern Asia and Eastern Europe has been cooler than normal.

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