Huge tornadoes, ^ loss of life, ^ damage. What's gone awry? What's different?

[Maru Kitteh]

Sitting here in late April in Nebraska, I should be watching the front lines collide, working their way up through Oklahoma and Kansas, knowing we will soon spend our own afternoons and evenings with the weather alert radios nearby the bedside.

The usual April storms we faced in tornado alley were occasionally strong, but in general I think they were limited by our cold night-time temperatures. Midnight tornadoes were simply unknown before late May/early June.

This year it seems to me that "our" tornadoes headed for greener pastures in the southeast. Warm southern nights and a displaced jetstream combined with the hyper-populated eastern coast (compared to our fair acres) means that every storm carries a significant toll.

I read a detailed scenario of climate change that looked just like this some many years ago. I can't help but give it mournful credence now.

[Elwood P Dowd]

1. It's been pure hell down here (Alabama) today.

Now it's moving up the east coast. Still awake waiting to hear from relatives -- cell towers down, power out, phone lines down, etc..

[Maru Kitteh]

2. All of you have our best wishes. We've been through our fair share, but what we see going on

in the SE right now is ..... uniquely horrendous.

[AngryOldDem]

5. Just heard 128 were killed there. n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. have gotten news from all our relatives in Ttown and B'ham

hope all yours check in soon. It was a hell of a day...Tuscaloosa, near 15th and McFarland looks like a nuclear weapon was detonated. The Forest Lake Neighborhood was completely wiped out. My old home on the corner of 16th St and 1st Ave is gone. So many people hurting.

Sending good vibes your way, mate!

sP

[Sherman A1]

3. My heart goes out to the folks who have suffered

but, a fraction of what we are seeing may be better (or more) reporting as well.

[JoeyT]

4. The big twisters aren't really new.

The frequency may be higher now, I have no idea about that, but they've always been here.

http://www3.gendisasters.com/alabama/2512/lower-peachtree,-al-tornado,-mar-1913

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Where in my statement led you to the mistaken belief I thought otherwise?

Of course they have. My point is we are seeing an increased number of large tornadoes, they are appearing in greater numbers, they are happening earlier in the season, and compared to their usual pattern they are predominantly geographically displaced into an area that seems to have provided them with greater strength and most unfortunately, more opportunity to damage and kill.

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. I think it has shifted.

I'm in Kansas City - just east of tornado alley. it sure seems like the worst of the storms have shifted to the east of us now. We still get hit out there in Kansas but not so often.

That tornado was horrifying - it was so big. I can't imagine a tornado 1 mile wide.

Luckily I have never been in a tornado. The closest I've come was having one go over the top of my house. That was scary enough. It hit north of me.

Those poor people.

[Cetacea]

9. +1

[Chris_Texas]

10. No, actually not.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. do explain

and please, bother yourself to provide details.