A tornado hovers near Black Creek Aug. 10, 2021. (M’Kallyn Hintz via Fox 11 Online)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin is experiencing a significant uptick in severe weather, with tornadoes appearing earlier in the season and in unexpected areas.
The state has already reached its yearly average number of tornadoes, despite it being only June.
“We average about 23 per year across the whole state, and already — we are barely in June — and we’ve already hit 23 tornadoes,” said Kurt Kotenberg, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Green Bay. “The peak tornado season in Wisconsin here is until like July and August.”
This shift in tornado activity is not just about timing, but also location.
“It seems like the traditional Tornado Alley is shifting a little bit further to the east, and it’s shifting a little bit further north,” said Kotenberg.
A 2018 study supports this observation, noting a decrease in tornado frequency across the central and southern Great Plains, while the Midwest and Southeast are seeing an increase.
Kotenberg acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the causes of these changes.
“Then of course, the follow-up question is what’s causing that? And you know, we’re just not certain yet. As a science, we just need more data and more years of research to gather an answer to that,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty, Kotenberg emphasized the importance of preparedness.
“Quite often, it’s continued to be an active July and active August. So again, right now is a great time to be prepared. Make sure you have ways to receive weather information,” he said.
As Tornado Alley potentially shifts eastward, Wisconsin may find itself closer to the center of tornado activity — underscoring the need for vigilance as the severe weather season progresses.
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