This winter's historic warmth set the stage for a deadly tornado outbreak across the U.S. Midwest this week, unleashing destructive winds and gorilla hail as large as softballs. At least three lives were lost in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Arkansas during Thursday's storms—a stark reminder of nature’s power in an unseasonably hot year 🌡️.
Meteorologists point to climate records: 2023-2024 was the hottest winter ever documented in the U.S. and globally. \":heat is the jet fuel for severe weather,\" said Northern Illinois University’s Prof. Victor Gensini. Normally, such tornado clusters hit in April or May, but rising temps are rewriting the rules 📅.
Two Ingredients for Chaos
Tornadoes need a recipe of wind shear (changing wind speeds/directions with altitude) and instability (warm, moist air near the ground colliding with cooler air above). This week’s record warmth cranked up the instability, creating a playground for swirling supercells ⚡.
Meanwhile, Kansas faced baseball-sized hail on Wednesday—a phenomenon nicknamed #GorillaHail for its monstrous size. Scientists warn such extremes may become more frequent as global temps rise 🌍.
