Tornadoes are a terrifying natural phenomenon capable of devastating swaths of land and leaving a lasting impression on those involved. But did you know that tornadoes do not cross the Mississippi river?
Tornadoes most often form in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, however, tornadoes are not limited to this area. They can form anywhere in the world because of the right combination of factors.
A deadly force of moving air, a tornado is always created by a storm in the atmosphere. This rotating column can range in size, but they are generally hundreds of feet in size and often move quickly, up to 100 miles an hour. Depending on its strength, a tornado can range in intensity from EF0 to EF5, with the highest on the Enhanced Fujita scale meaning winds over 200 miles an hour and catastrophic damage.
While tornadoes usually form east of the Rocky Mountains and extend eastward, the Mississippi river acts as an invisible barrier for them. This is rarely discussed, but the Mississippi river does provide some protection from tornadoes.
Tornadoes seem to reach a sort of termination point near the river, where they just dissipate. This appears to be the result of the air above the river being too cold for the intense packets of air that create tornadoes.
As one moves towards the Mississippi River, the average temperature in the troposphere decreases by several degrees, which is enough to limit the amount of tornado-causing instability present in the atmosphere. The river likely causes this cooling effect due to the large amount of moisture it holds, which helps to reduce the overall temperature.
Interestingly, the Mississippi River is known to affect many of the same conditions that signal the formation of tornadoes, so it’s not surprising that it could have a major effect on their scope. For example, the river can prevent the formation of lethal thunderstorms before they reach the Mississippi Valley by cooling the air.
Furthermore, the Mississippi River has been known to prevent the formation of supercell thunderstorms, a type of thunderstorm with a rotating updraft capable of creating a tornado. The river is believed to decrease the atmospheric instability near its banks, which makes it more difficult for the conditions necessary for a supercell to form.
Researchers who have studied the phenomenon of tornadoes not crossing the Mississippi River suggest that this may come down to the river’s cooling effect on the air. By preventing the formation of supercells, the Mississippi River helps to limit the spread and intensity of tornadoes, potentially saving many lives.
Tornado Strength
The strength of tornadoes varies depending on a number of factors, one of which is the amount of static and dynamic instability in the atmosphere. Static instability is when the air is warmer at higher altitudes and cooler at lower altitudes; dynamic instability is when rising air is warmer than the air around it. Both of these factors play an important role in the formation of tornadoes.
Also, the amount of wind shear – the decrease in wind speed and change in wind direction with height – plays a major role in tornado formation. Wind shear occurs when the environment is more stable, and this stronger wind shear enhances the speed and strength of the tornado.
Tornado strength is increased when there’s a strong jet stream, which is a fast-moving current of air that flows through the atmosphere at a certain height, at a certain speed and in a certain direction. These jets streams are formed when there is a clash between two types of air masses.
Tornadoes are also more likely to form when the warm air is located over a large body of warm water. This is because warm air rises when it reaches a body of warm water and this warm air triggers thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Finally, the topography of the landscape where a tornado is most likely to form also plays an important role in tornado strength. Low areas such as valleys are more likely to have tornadoes than elevated areas, as they provide a more favorable environment.
Mississippi Protection
The Mississippi River is not the only factor that affects tornado formation and location. Air temperature is also a very important factor. Tornadoes thrive in warm, moist air, so areas prone to tornado activity are in the southern and eastern parts of the United States, where temperatures are on the higher side.
Lastly, high pressure systems can help to form tornadoes. When two different air masses collide, a high pressure system forms, and this can lead to the erection of tornado-causing cumulonimbus clouds. These pressure systems can force warm and cold air off the ground, creating the perfect conditions for a tornado.
Despite the air temperatures, low pressure, and high pressure systems, the Mississippi River has shown to keep the destruction at bay. As the river appears to prevent tornado formation and movement, their walls of destruction end at the banks of the Mississippi.
By analyzing the conditions of the atmosphere, experts can then gain an understanding of how tornadoes form, move and dissipate. Through these observations, we can then better understand how the Mississippi River prevents tornadoes from crossing its paths.
Tornado Chasing
Tornado chasing is an extreme sport that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves traveling to areas that are prone to tornado activity, such as in the middle of the US, and attempting to spot and study tornadoes in order to better understand their behavior.
Tornado chasers often have the goal of reaching the destruction path of a tornado before it reaches the Mississippi River. They are seeking to understand what it is about the Mississippi River that keeps these powerful storms in check and to collect data on the formation and dissipation of tornadoes.
In addition, they hope to witness first-hand why the Mississippi River seems to act as a shield against these destructive natural disasters. It could be that the river plays a role in ending tornadoes once they reach its banks, rather than stopping them from forming altogether.
Tornado chasers are a dedicated, passionate bunch, but they are careful about where and when they go. They know that the Mississippi River isn’t a reliable protection, and that a powerful enough tornado could still cross the river.
Therefore, most times, chasers will avoid placing themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. Their goal isn’t to be in the path of destruction, but to study the behavior of tornadoes in order to better prepare for them in the future.
Interactions With the Mississippi River
Aside from the protection it provides against tornadoes, the Mississippi River has had an incredibly long and interwoven history with human interaction. The river is often considered to be the main artery for transport, and it has been used by many civilizations over the centuries for trade, transport, recreation, and more.
The Mississippi River is a major source of freshwater and plays an important role in the lives of millions of people who live along it. It is also an important source of food and sustenance for many animals. The river is also home to numerous species of fish and other aquatic life.
The river is an important source of power generation, irrigation, and navigation. It is used to drive barges, ships, and other vessels that carry essential goods up and down the river. It also plays an important role in the economy and has helped to shape many of the communities along its banks.
In addition, the Mississippi River has helped to shape the culture and art of the people who live and work along the river. It has provided inspiration for many writers, artists, musicians, and others. There are countless stories, songs, and paintings about the river and its people.
The Mississippi River is both a source of life and a force of destruction. It is feared as a source of tornadoes but also revered for the protection it provides. It is an important source of transportation, sustenance, and culture. The river has an important history with both humans and natural disasters, and it continues to shape the lives of those who live along its banks.
