Nighttime Tornadic Storms Are Dangerous, Not 'Good Sleeping Weather'

[Judi Lynn]

MAR 20, 2018 @ 07:51 PM 5,646 The Little Black Book of Billionaire Secrets
Nighttime Tornadic Storms Are Dangerous, Not 'Good Sleeping Weather'

Marshall Shepherd , CONTRIBUTOR

This week parts of the southern United States experienced tornadic storms that left a path of destruction. The campus of Jacksonville State University in eastern Alabama sustained major damage from tornadic storms and a damaging EF-2 tornado tore through a subdivision only miles from the world's busiest airport. Much of this activity happened at night. In the Atlanta area, a tornado watch was issued until 4 am Tuesday morning. My alert level was immediately elevated. There is an old saying that storms can be "good sleeping weather." I understand the logic of that statement, and a quick Internet search reveals a non-trivial share of "storm" apps or recordings to aid with sleeping. However, I know that nocturnal tornadic storms can be particularly dangerous. I am guessing that some people, though under a tornado watch, declared it "good sleeping weather" and turned in for the evening. Here is why that may not be such a great idea without a plan.



NWS/Jennie Stuart
Hopkinsville Tornado (2016)

While nocturnal thunderstorms are most common in the Plains regions during June and July, they can certainly happen at any time and in much of the eastern United States. A 2008 study from Northern Illinois University found that while only 27% of tornadoes happened at night, 39% of tornado fatalities were nocturnal. They also found that 42% of "killer" tornadoes were nocturnal. The authors noted that winter and spring-transition seasons (November to April) had the highest fatality rates from nocturnal storms. This is surprising since those are not necessarily the peak months for tornadoes. The authors told Science Daily that fewer daylight hours and public underestimation of "preseason" storms may be factors. The study, published in the American Meteorological Society's journal Weather and Forecasting, also found that one of the reasons tornadoes occurring during the period from midnight to sunrise are 2.5 times more deadly is related to geography. Nocturnal tornadic storms take a particular toll on vulnerable populations and housing structures in the American South.

More:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2018/03/20/nighttime-tornadic-storms-are-dangerous-not-good-sleeping-weather/#441c62d92ccb

[ret5hd]

1. Growing up in Oklahoma...

Those tornado sirens were just like a sweet lullaby...make you drift right off.