Joplin, Mo., may deal with 2nd tornado right after catastrophe

More than a hundred people are dead in Joplin, Mo., due to a savage tornado touchdown in the town, and a second one might soon be on the way. A storm front is at the moment converging on the lower Midwest region. There’s a strong probability of tornadoes. An extreme thunderstorm alert, including a huge chance of tornadoes, is in impact for five states.

Which states need to worry a tornado might hit

MSNBC explains that a storm system has produced tornadoes already after starting in the south of the U.S. and continuing with more tornadoes after hitting Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, May 22 and killing 116. A thunderstorm advisory is in effect for Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and the northeast corner of Texas, and people are told to view for tornadoes, hail and strong winds throughout the region. The tornado risk was commented on by a National Weather Service official. The official said the risk is “not through … not by a long shot.” As the storm progresses in the week, the chance of another tornado just like the one that hit Joplin taking place will decrease, although the chance is still there, reports USA Today.

Because it is La Nina, possibility of storms goes up

Tornadoes have been the reason for 482 fatalities this year. The increased strength of storm systems and tornadoes is being credited to La Niña, a periodic weather phenomenon caused when the tropical Pacific Ocean cools. Storm systems become more severe meaning more tornadoes may occur when the Pacific cools since the jet streams get stronger and cool air rises to the atmosphere. Yahoo News explains that meteorologists aren’t surprised by the storms. They say that the events aren’t out of the ordinary even though they are terrible events. Weather patterns, such as low pressure systems conducive to tornadoes, can form in areas and stay for long periods of time. Last month, several tornadoes tore across several states and killed more than 300 people.

Insurance losses in the billions

Billions will be lost by insurance companies. Reuters reports that a lot will have to be paid out. A normal year means only $2 billion to $4 billion would be paid out by insurance companies while this year is expected to total $10 billion with all the tornado outbreaks and river flooding in the United States happening. All of the insurance companies in the world might have to pay up to $55 billion this year. This is just for the damage the New Zealand and Japan earthquake have caused. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to get towns rebuilt after the 1,151 tornadoes that have already hit in 2011. There were 181 people killed in Woodward, Okla., in 1947 making Joplin’s tornado the deadliest since then. At one point during the storm, the Joplin tornado was three-quarters of a mile across. Speeds of 200 miles per hour came from it.

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43147795/ns/weather/

USA Today

usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/2011-05-23-tornadoes-hit-plains_n.htm

Yahoo News

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_sci_midwest_storms_science;_ylt=AjjcCUBXXogIBRiQGeOupzqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNjM21oOHRnBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNTI0L3VzX21pZHdlc3Rfc3Rvcm1zBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDNgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDcmVsYXRlZA–

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/05/24/us-insurance-disasters-idUSTRE74M6GH20110524