Tornado formation and global warming

The recent outbreak of tornadoes in the United States has many questioning what influence global warming is having on tornado formation. Last week storms brought a reported 80 tornadoes prior to what is considered the beginning of tornado season. Tornado season generally begins as the region begins to warm for spring, which means global warming could alter the beginning of the season. Generally the U.S. experiences an average of 800 tornadoes each year. The record number of tornadoes in any one month was experienced last year, with 753 tornadoes in the month of April. This nearly tripled the number of tornadoes in the previous month record of April 1974. The recent 80 tornadoes were also more than the average of the entire month of March. Experts believe that as global warming influences continue, February will likely become the start of the tornado season rather than the typical late March or April. Global warming is currently considered an influence on tornado formation, however, it is unknown whether global warming is or will be influencing the frequency or strength of the tornadoes forming. Studies are limited but are expected to expand, especially in light of recent events. The world under the influence of global warming is expected to see an increase in the strength of thunderstorms, and therefore likelihood of tornadoes. However, experts also point to the fact that the temperature difference between lower and higher latitudes will decrease, a change which will alter wind shear. Altering the wind shear could impact the number of tornadoes which form. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the violence level of storms has been increasing since 1970. As the world continues to warm, experts expect an increase in thunderstorm strength and the strength of tornadoes. However, while the violence level of the storm and tornado may increase, the frequency may decrease due to a number of factors, such as altering wind shear and the strength of the storms discharging more energy at one time. However, the influence on frequency is not entirely known and looking at the figures of recent tornado months it is entirely possible that the frequency may increase. Experts point to a likely increase in the number of days which are good for storm and tornado formation in central and eastern U.S. as the century progresses. The East coast, such as New York, which rarely experiences tornadoes, is also expected to see twice as many days which may result in tornadoes. The number of tornadoes may decrease but the strength will increase and the strength of a tornado is directly related to the extent of damage and deaths.