2 dead in Florida as severe weather, tornadoes wreak havoc across South. Where are storms headed next?
USA TodayMAR 13 2022
Last week, a large storm system that brought strong winds and tornadoes left a path of destruction across the southern US.
The US National Weather Service logged more than 37 tornado reports from a Mar 30-31 outbreak, which caused widespread damage and power outages. One tornado touchdown in the FL panhandle caused 2 fatalities.
Last month saw more tornadoes in the US than any previous March on record, solidifying a recent trend that's seen severe weather occur earlier in the calendar year.
There could be a climate connection to these outbreaks. Some scientists believe that changing atmospheric conditions are fueling tornado eruptions across the South.
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.
This is a "human-built environment" problem. Vulnerable southern communities typically live in more weak-framed houses compared to the central US. It's vital for impoverished residents to have sturdy, resilient housing.