Natural Hazards: Windstorms and Turbulence Increasing in Number, Intensity and Location Shifts

Sat Image Duststorm

Image: Satellite image of a large dust storm in the Takla Makan Desert, northwestern China. MODIS Rapid Response Team/NASA/GFSC

Meteorology Windstorm:

A wind that is strong enough to cause at least light damage to trees and buildings and may or may not be accompanied by precipitation. Wind speeds during a windstorm typically exceed 55 km (34 miles) per hour. 

https://www.britannica.com/science/windstorm

Meteorology Whirlwind:

A whirlwind is a small-diameter columnar vortex of rapidly swirling air. A broad spectrum of vortices occurs in the atmosphere, ranging in scale from small eddies that form in the lee of buildings and topographic features to fire storms, waterspouts, and tornadoes. 

The generic whirlwind is usually modified to reflect the visible features associated with the whirl; thus there are dust whirls or dust devils, sand whirls or sand pillars, and fire, smoke, snow, and even hay whirls.

https://www.britannica.com/science/whirlwind

Derecho:

A derecho is a very long lived and damaging thunderstorm. A storm is classified as a derecho if wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles and has wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of the length of the storm's path. 

https://www.weather.gov/safety/wind-thunderstorms-derecho

Image: NOAA Derecho

Haboobs or Dust and Sandstorms:

Haboobs are intense sand-and-dust storms, carried on winds blowing in summertime in desert regions of the world. Haboobs can create problems for travelers, as well as respiratory problems for those caught in them. Dust seems to consume the air, making visibility low.

https://earthsky.org/earth/what-are-haboobs-amazing-pics-and-videos/

Turbulence Incidents and Aircraft:

Turbulence is one of the most unpredictable of all the weather phenomena that are of significance to pilots. Turbulence is an irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents. It may be as insignificant as a few annoying bumps or severe enough to momentarily throw an airplane out of control or to cause structural damage. Turbulence is associated with fronts, wind shear, thunderstorms, etc.

https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Page/turbulence_stuff/turbulence/turbulence.htm

Turbulence Expected to Increase in the Coming Years:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/air-turbulence-climate-getting-worse/index.html

BBC: Aircraft turbulence is worsening

https://www.businessinsider.com/korean-air-stop-serving-instant-noodles-burns-increased-turbulence-2024-8

Ancient Stories:

During the previous Binary Solar System Crossings, the Ancients tell us of strong, intense, and sustained wind and windstorm events such as Tempests,  Storm Wind or Windstorms, Whirlwinds, Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes. 

Ancient Reports: Windstorms, Whirlwinds and Tempests

Climate in Transition, Blended Seasons, and Era of Global Boiling

Wind Events Increasing:

Strong Wind and Windstorms Events on the Rise: 

DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS INCREASING IN CENTRAL U.S.

"Analysis shows impact of climate change on outflow from thunderstorms

Destructive winds that flow out of thunderstorms in the central United States are becoming more widespread with warming temperatures, according to new research by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)."

https://news.ucar.edu/132927/damaging-thunderstorm-winds-increasing-central-us

Winds Speeds Increasing:

JET STREAM WINDS WILL ACCELERATE WITH WARMING CLIMATE

Faster winds likely to cause bumpier flights, more severe weather. New research shows that the fastest jet stream winds will accelerate with climate change.

New research by the University of Chicago and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) finds that fast jet stream winds will get significantly faster by mid century because of climate change.

The study, in Nature Climate Change, suggests that the fastest upper-level jet stream winds will accelerate by about 2% for every degree Celsius (1.8° Fahrenheit) that the world warms. Furthermore, the fastest winds will speed up 2.5 times faster than the average wind.

Jet stream winds are powerful and narrow bands in the upper atmosphere that generally move from west to east, influencing weather patterns as well as aircraft. Faster winds would likely increase the potential for severe weather, and they could worsen clear air turbulence for air travelers while affecting flight times.

https://news.ucar.edu/132935/jet-stream-winds-will-accelerate-warming-climate

Surface Wind Speed Change

"The main cause of wind is differential heating, or the difference in temperature between different areas. The impact of global warming on surface wind speeds is an active area of research. Winds across much of North America, Europe and Asia have been growing faster since about 2010. Prior to 2010, observations indicated that surface wind speed had decreased in numerous sites around the globe for decades. Changes in wind speed can have far-reaching implications, such as on the rate of evaporation.

There are serious implications of wind changes in areas like agriculture and hydrology, basically because of the influence of wind on evaporation.

This may affect earth's systems such as heat, floods, drought, hurricanes, and fires. 

Global warming is having profound effects on Earth systems. Glaciers, snow, and permafrost are declining. Sea level rise and ocean acidification are accelerating. The air currents that influence the world's weather are changing. Climate zones are shifting poleward and ecosystems are being disrupted. These large-scale changes are having widespread and severe impacts, increasing human exposure and vulnerability to hazards including extreme heat, floods, drought, hurricanes, and fires."

https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/surface-wind-speed-change

Preparation, Safety, and Health:

Strong Wind Safety

"High winds can occur during a severe thunderstorm, with a strong weather system, or can flow down a mountain. When winds are sustained at 40-50 mph, isolated wind damage is possible. Widespread significant wind damage can occur with higher wind speeds. During strong thunderstorms, straight line wind speeds can exceed 100 mph. High winds can blow objects around and pose a significant threat to your safety. Understanding the risks can help you prepare for these events"

https://www.weather.gov/safety/wind

Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources:

Hurricane Hazards

• While hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and depression also can be devastating. The primary hazards from tropical cyclones (which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents.
• Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States. Storm surge and large battering waves can result in large loss of life and cause massive destruction along the coast.
• Storm surge can travel several miles inland, especially along bays, rivers, and estuaries.
• Flooding from heavy rains is the second leading cause of fatalities from landfalling tropical cyclones. Widespread torrential rains associated with these storms often cause flooding hundreds of miles inland. This flooding can persist for several days after a storm has dissipated.
• Winds from a hurricane can destroy buildings and manufactured homes. Signs, roofing material, and other items left outside can become flying missiles during hurricanes.
• Tornadoes can accompany landfalling tropical cyclones. These tornadoes typically occur in rain bands well away from the center of the storm.
• Dangerous waves produced by a tropical cyclone's strong winds can pose a significant hazard to coastal residents and mariners. These waves can cause deadly rip currents, significant beach erosion, and damage to structures along the coastline, even when the storm is more than a 1,000 miles offshore.

https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane

https://www.weather.gov/owlie/publication_brochures#hurricanes

 Tornado Safety:

• A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. 
• Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. 
• Tornadoes can occur at any time of day or night and at any time of the year. Although tornadoes are most common in the Central Plains and the southeastern United States, they have been reported in all 50 states.
• This website is designed to teach you how to stay safe when a tornado threatens. If you know what to do before, during and after a tornado, you will minimize your risk of injury and increase your chances of survival. You'll also find links to research, past events other topics of interest as well as downloadable safety handouts about thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes.
• https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado
  
• https://www.weather.gov/owlie/publication_brochures#tornadoes

Native Americans Windstorm Survival:

 In the USA, ancient Native Americans had special marker trees that helped them navigate trails. Of particular interests here, they could tie themselves to the trees in severe storms like hurricanes, and use them as protection from high winds. Our survival might depend on getting back to living a simple life in tents and other flexible dwellings, and working with nature, not against her.

Relevant Current Events:

2024

Tuesday February 27, 2024

Fire-Weather:  When High Winds Meet Dry Air

Wilfires: Canadian TX

"An out-of-control wildfire is threatening Texas Panhandle towns and forcing residents to evacuate. Meanwhile, several other wildfires are burning nearby, fueled by high winds and dry air.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has scorched more than 250,000 acres of land since igniting Monday afternoon, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Evacuations were ordered early Tuesday afternoon for parts of Hemphill and Roberts counties as the fire encroached on populated areas. This includes the town of Canadian, Texas, about an hour and half northeast of Amarillo, Texas."

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/texas-smokehouse-creek-fire-02-27-24/index.htm

Severe Storm Threat In The Midwest Could Produce Large Hail, Wind Damage And Tornadoes

• Severe thunderstorms will impact parts of the Midwest into early Wednesday.
• Large hail, wind damage and an isolated tornado threat will accompany those storms.
• A sharp drop in temperatures, even snow could follow for some.
• D​amaging hail, strong wind gusts and tornadoes could accompany severe storms that flare up in the Midwest tonight as a strong cold front slices into unusually warm air that's already shattered temperature records this week.

https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/2024-02-22-severe-tornado-wind-thunderstorm-forecast

June 5, 2024 News Collection

Weather . com

'Tornado Alley' Has Shifted East From The Plains, A New Study Says

At a Glance:

A new study found the most active tornado corridor in the U.S. has changed in recent decades.

It's focused in the lower Mississippi Valley, but still is active into the lower Ohio Valley and Southern Plains.

There are also more winter tornadoes than past decades.

Tornadoes have diminished more in summer than any other season.

CNN: The US is in the middle of an exceptional tornado streak. Here’s what it looks like

Unusual Tornado Cluster and Damage in the Maryland DC Area:

CNN: 1 dead, homes damaged after destructive tornadoes and storms hit three states and a DC suburb

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