First Alert Weather: Why more tornadoes are happening in December
There have been more tornadoes in December in Tennessee, than any other month in recent history.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The December 9, 2023 tornado outbreak’s anniversary is a reminder that tornadoes can strike any time of year.
A devastating tornado outbreak shook the Midstate on December 9, 2023. A year later, there is still a lot of cleanup to do and a permanent scar in the minds of those impacted by this terrible outbreak.
There were 7 tornadoes total in Middle Tennessee. A few impacted southern Kentucky as well. In total, there were 7 fatalities. Three of those fatalities occurred in Madison, TN, while the 4 others occurred as a result of the Clarksville/Montgomery County tornado.
The EF2 tornado that tracked through Davidson and Sumner counties at one point was deemed a tornado emergency as the damage it was creating was deemed catastrophic as the twister moved through highly populated areas.
Tornado records for this area date back to the 1800s. Traditionally, most tornadoes in Tennessee occur in the Spring. In the Fall, there is a second spike in severe weather due to the changing of seasons. Shockingly, December has had the most tornadoes in the past 12 years.
This shocking statistic may put your brain to work as you probably question how we can even get tornadoes in the cold months. Shifts in seasons and warmer temperatures play a huge role in cold-season tornadoes.
Notice, in the chart above, we’ve had 35 tornadoes in Tennessee in December just in the past 12 years. The only other month with 30 or more tornadoes for the state is March. January is also a notable month for tornadoes.
A few factors other than warmer temperatures are at play here. Our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico means we can often get warm humid air masses here even in the cold of Winter.
Large-scale climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña can also alter the path of the jet stream. Any time the jet stream dips this far south, and you have a warm humid air mass in place and some type of front, it is possible to get tornadoes.
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