Winter tornado threat persists as experts warn of seasonal risks

Tornadoes are complex phenomena

We don't have all the answers to why they form, why they sustain themselves and why they die

And can have wind speeds of 60 miles an hour to as much as 300 miles an hour

You might not associate the holiday season with images like these. Tornado season winds down after the summer months, but that doesn't mean the danger's past

Just look at the destruction left behind in Tennessee in December of 2023

And experts predict we'll see an average of 28 tornadoes this December

The United States has more tornadoes and greater tornado density than any place in the world

So we have a very unique geography in the United States. We have the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Western Caribbean that brings that moisture up into the United States

which is a critical ingredient for thunderstorm formation. And then we got the mountains on the west side

and they create a unique environment that supportive of very strong instability or energy for thunderstorms The unique environment of the U comes down to atmospheric pressure The lower it is the stronger a storm can be

Low-pressure systems draw air in, creating those rains and winds, ultimately the vortex that creates a funnel cloud

Tornado outbreaks typically occur between February and June, but a powerful low-pressure area combined with unusually warm air

is all it takes for a winter twister. Most tornadoes are short-lived, some only on the order of minutes, maybe even less than that, and might not travel that far

In other cases, particularly during the cool seasons, those tornadoes tend to move very fast

While a tornado is dangerous any time of the year, winter conditions can add serious complications

The National Weather Service has some advice if you find yourself in the path of one

bundle up before taking shelter, restock your shelter space for winter weather

keep paths clear, and plan for power outages. The December 2023 tornado outbreak killed seven people and injured 71

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Henry