Severe Tornado Outbreaks Already Appearing in the First Month of 2023

The Washington Post has posted an article detailing the unusual outbreak of tornados and thunderstorms observed in January 2023, despite such activity not being expected until March or April. As of January 18th, the National Weather Service has already received 124 preliminary tornado reports (compared to January’s national average of 34 tornados). Furthermore, Iowa experienced its first January tornados since 1967, potentially the furthest northwest tornados ever observed during January. Researchers are also concerned about the potential for significant increases in winter thunderstorm activity for the South and the Midwest, especially supercells. One study concludes by warning the “potential for more significant tornadoes, hail, and extreme rainfall that, when combined with an increasingly vulnerable society, may produce disastrous consequences.” Read more at the Washington Post.