Jesse Furman receives one of her belongings from Brayden McLemore near her wrecked trailer in Selmer, Tennessee on April 3, following the devastation caused by an EF3 tornado. – Photo by Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network/Reuters
Recent back-to-back-to-back tornado outbreaks have highlighted the unusually active start to the thunderstorm season in the United States. Despite the typical peak being a few weeks away, the country has experienced a surge in severe weather conditions early on. The reason behind this heightened activity may lie in the region known as the Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, as identified by the US government.
The US stands out as a global hotspot for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes due to the convergence of essential atmospheric elements in abundance. The Gulf serves as a significant source of warm, moist air that provides the energy necessary to fuel thunderstorms. When this warm air moves northward and collides with cold air from Canada moving south, it creates powerful storms, most frequently occurring from the Plains to just west of the Appalachians.
The warmth and moisture in the Gulf contribute to the intensity of thunderstorms, with the region experiencing above-average temperatures. This increased warmth has been noted in recent years, leading to more evaporation and moisture in the atmosphere, a consequence of climate change according to experts.
The influx of warm, moist air from the Gulf plays a crucial role in enhancing storm activity, providing the energy needed for more severe weather events. While such atmospheric conditions are commonly observed in the US, the presence of a triggering mechanism, often in the form of a potent cold front, is necessary for severe storms to develop.
In recent weeks, the country has witnessed a series of tornado outbreaks resulting in significant damage and loss of life. These events underscore the potential impact of climate change on severe weather phenomena. While further research is needed to establish a direct link between climate change and specific weather events, the frequency and intensity of severe storms are indicative of a changing climate.
Recent research from Climate Central indicates that severe thunderstorms are occurring approximately twice as frequently in the spring compared to 1979, affecting multiple states from the South to the Midwest. However, tracking the impact of climate change on tornadoes is challenging due to limited historical data. Tornadoes, being small and short-lived, require observation and reporting, which has become more efficient with modern weather radar technology.
While the overall number of tornadoes in the US has remained steady since the 1950s when excluding weaker EF0 tornadoes, there has been an increase in the frequency of tornado outbreaks since the 1970s, particularly for extreme events. A 2016 study noted a rise in the occurrence of tornadoes forming in widespread clusters rather than isolated storms.
Furthermore, the geographical distribution of tornadoes has shifted over time, with more instances reported in the lower Midwest extending to the Deep South. This trend is attributed to the warming climate driving severe weather patterns towards these regions.
As of 2025, the US has already encountered close to 500 tornado reports since the beginning of the year, exceeding the typical count by early April. The previous years, 2024 and 2023, also saw heightened tornado activity in the early spring, accompanied by unusually warm conditions in the Gulf. The previous year concluded with the second-highest number of tornadoes recorded in the past 15 years, following 2017.
From March 27 to April 7, the US experienced 12 consecutive days of tornado reports, with approximately half of the year’s reports noted during this period. Not only have tornadoes been prevalent, but there have been over 3,200 reports of damaging winds submitted to the Storm Prediction Center by April 10, more than double the usual amount by this time.
While May typically marks the peak season for tornadoes and severe weather, there are early indicators pointing to potentially hazardous weather conditions in the central US later this month. For further updates and news, consider visiting CNN.com to access CNN’s newsletters and stay informed.
