WoooOOOOO! A siren wails as storm clouds darken the sky. It’s warning people to seek shelter. A tornado is nearby!
Many people living in the Great Plains, an area in the central U.S., have experienced this frightening scene. More tornadoes happen there than anywhere else in the world! The flat area is even nicknamed Tornado Alley. But over the past 30 years, scientists have noticed a shift in tornado patterns. Fewer twisters have been striking Tornado Alley than in years past and more have been forming in the Southeast.
People in the Southeast region aren’t used to tornadoes. Scientists are studying what’s causing the increase—and what it means for communities. “We can’t really point our finger at the cause of the change,” says Victor Gensini. He’s a scientist who studies extreme weather. “The best thing to do is create an action plan ahead of time,” he says.