Reflecting On The Joplin Tornado

Missouri Tornado Is The Latest In Litany Of Severe Weather Stories This Spring

After what had been an usually above average April in terms of severe weather, May had been surprisingly dormant. Stagnant weather patterns in the east were a result of a jet stream that had lost its punch. However, over the past four days, the severe weather season has enjoyed a resurgence much to the dismay of residents in the Great Plains.

Since May 21st, there have been 118 tornadoes throughout the United States, which is more than double what had occurred previously this month. One twister on Sunday night in particular has captured the attention of the entire country. It was a now EF5 tornado with over 200 mile per hour winds that roared through the town of Joplin, Missouri, which was made famous in Nat King Cole’s song, Route 66. The storm was three quarters of a mile wide, and tore a path that was six miles long, and a mile and a half wide.

Two thousand buildings were destroyed by the tornado. Neighborhoods flattened. The images of damaged cars brought back memories of the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew in August 1992. It is the deadliest tornado since records started being kept by NOAA in 1950. One hundred twenty-two people have died in this storm so far with another 1,500 or so people missing. For a town of approximately 50,000 people, it has been a tough blow.

To make matters worse, there were more severe thunderstorms with gusty winds, rain, and dangerous lightning on Monday, and now a Tornado Watch in effect through early Wednesday morning. With today’s tornadoes in Oklahoma, there have been 51 deadly tornadoes in the United States this season, which is far more than the average. After the severe weather outbreak in the South on April 27th, many were wondering what could top the devastation scene in places like Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Smithville, Mississippi.

Much of the month of May has been dominated by the Mississippi Flood of 2011, which brought record crests to Memphis as well as Vicksburg and Natchez in Mississippi. However, the events in Joplin over the past several days as well as more severe weather in the nation’s heartland on Tuesday, has brought back the focus on severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. It has been a rough spring. Between the flooding and tornado outbreaks, the country is reeling.