Tornadoes in and near Jackson, Tennessee (1950 2004)

This map of Jackson, Tennessee shows the tornado activity in and around
this city from 1950 to 2004. The red points are more recent tornados, and the
bigger the points are, the higher the magnitude is, according to the Fujita
scale. Jackson and its surrounding areas are frequently faced with tornadoes,
with an average of about eighteen per year. This is a rural area, and although
Jackson is outside of Tornado Alley, it is actually a part of Dixie Alley. This
area is prone to violent tornadoes, too, due to the humidity of the southeast
region of the United States. Tornadoes often occur in overly warm areas in
the lower atmosphere, or when there is a sudden change in the wind
direction. The map does not show any particular increase in the number of
tornadoes occurring around Jackson, as many of the points are green and
yellow. In May of 2003, an F4 tornado started out near Denmark, Tennessee
and made its way roughly 40 miles east to Lexington. With 11 deaths and 86
reported injuries, this was one of the biggest and most violent tornadoes to
travel through the area in recent years. This follows a consistent pattern
among this region, as tornadoes in Dixie Alley seem to travel northeast, according to the grey
arrows on the map. Stopping a tornado is not easy, but a realistic solution is to improve tornado
warnings. The quicker people can evacuate the area, the less likely they are to face injuries.
Organizations for natural disaster control can also help, as they can provide food and shelter to
those living in tornado prone areas, such as Tennessee.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ohx/?n=tornadoclimatology
http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_tornadoes.htm
http://www.homefacts.com/tornadoes/Tennessee.html
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?
webmap=69fdcd8e40734712aaec34194d4b988c

Tornadoes in the U.S. (1950 - 2004)

Caption:
This is a map of the tornado activity in the U.S. from 1950 to
2004. Evidently, tornadoes occur mostly in the Midwest, the south, and
sometimes the east coast. The reason behind the geographical locations of
tornadoes is Tornado Alley, as well as Dixie Alley and its surrounding
areas. These areas are prone to the most tornadoes due to the sudden
changes in weather and the direction of wind. In the plains, it is common
for warm and cold air to clash. This can cause tornadoes, and they usually
travel from southwest to northeast, usually because that is the way in
which the winds travel. Over the past few decades, Tornado Alley has
developed a reputation for having a number of deadly tornadoes. From
the colored points on the map, it would seem that the number of
tornadoes have actually decreased over time, but this does not diminish
the level of danger these natural disasters bring. The Midwest still sees
F4 and F5 tornadoes, as does the south. An obvious solution is to avoid
living in such areas, however, those who already live there cannot pick up
their homes and move so easily. A practical solution is to plan ahead and
prepare for possible tornadoes by educating and informing residents of
the United States of tornado signs. Thunderstorms, for example, often occur before a tornado
hits. Although evacuation can save human lives, it wont save the homes and other structures
from tornadoes, which is why it is reasonable to avoid living in tornado prone areas.
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?
webmap=69fdcd8e40734712aaec34194d4b988c
http://theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/404/

Global Tornado Distribution

Caption:
This map demonstrates the distribution of tornadoes all around the world. The red circles
containing lines that make up an upside down triangle, or a tornado, indicate which parts of
different continents frequently experience tornadoes. As shown in the previous maps, the
Midwest experiences a dangerously high amount of tornadoes. The U.S. actually sees more
tornadoes annually than any other country, with at least each state having reported a tornado at
least once. For example, the United Kingdom experiences about 33 tornadoes a year, while the
U.S. sees over 1,000. This is likely due to the amount of thunderstorms in the U.S., since that is
usually what occurs before a tornado hits. Tornadoes are a natural hazard beyond human control,
so the best solution is to prepare for natural disasters when living in places like the Midwest.
Preparation can include keeping a tornado kit at home, or having a place to go in case an
evacuation is necessary.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=znusC1p4Vyr4.k6iWJoErRd30&hl=en
http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/21/why-does-the-u-s-have-so-many-more-tornadoes-thanother-countries/