Free Republic

In a new study, researchers at Purdue University have harnessed the power of advanced computer modeling to unravel the complex reasons why the United States has more tornado activity than any other region in the world.The study, spearheaded by Dr. Dan Chavas, an associate professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, delves into the geographical and climatic factors that make America the country with the strongest, most violent, and numerous tornadoes worldwide...The United States averages over 1,200 tornadoes every year, a staggering figure that surpasses the total annual twisters of all European countries combined. The country that...

DES MOINES, Iowa — This has been an unusually mild year in Tornado Alley, which is good news, of course, for the people who live here, but a little frustrating to scientists who planned to chase twisters as part of a $10 million research project. "You're out there to do the experiment and you're geared up every day and ready. And when there isn't anything happening, that is frustrating," said Don Burgess, a scientist at the University of Oklahoma. Meteorologists are attributing the relative calm not to anything dire, like global warming, but to the shifts in the jet stream...

Today marks ten years since a massive, devastating tornado struck the town of Jarrell in northern Williamson County. Twenty-seven people died on May 27, 1997 when the F-5 twister tore through a subdivision in this tiny town of 1,300 residents. Twelve of those killed were children. The Jarrell tornado was one of twenty-four twisters to hit Central Texas that day. Residents had adequate warning, but most who died in the worst-hit neighborhoods did not have underground storm shelters. Experts say that for those that sought refuge in their homes, even in an interior room, the monster tornado was simply "an...

ATWOOD, Kan. - A hundred and forty years after the Homestead Act helped populate the American West, small towns in Kansas are turning to it again, to draw new residents and new economic development. Three hours east of Denver, Atwood, Kansas is losing ground. Census figures from 2000 showed 1,279 people living there, about a hundred fewer than in 1994. So, back in November, city leaders decided to offer home-sized lots for free to anyone willing to build. "I'm getting interest from every state of the union and Mexico," said Arlene Bliss, director of economic development for Rawlins County, KS....

Oklahoma weather humor! This was sent by the wife of the head meteorologist of the Nat'l Weather Bureau, based in Norman, OK---Considering the past couple of weeks here, we all need a little touch of humor. A Little Taste of Oklahoma Living For those of you who aren't familiar with tornadoes and are hearing news coverage of this, I put together a short glossary to help you understand. Fujita Scale: Scale used to measure wind speeds of a tornado and their severity. F1: Laughable little string of wind unless it comes through your house, then enough to make your insurance...