Deadly Tornados Strike Tennessee 

Tornados swept through central Tennessee in early April. They caused more than $70 million in damage, killed 12 people and injured 167.

Gallatin, Tennessee, resident Joan Hewgley’s house fell down around her.

“It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” she said. “The house is a total loss, but at least I have my life.”   

Tennessee is not the only place to see tornadoes this spring.

The number of tornadoes has jumped dramatically through the first part of 2006.           

Iowa also saw some nasty storms in mid-April. Tornados struck Iowa City. They caused more than $12 million damage. There was heavy damage on the University of Iowa campus. The storms also blew apart a brick church.           

Other parts of the city were unharmed.

“Tornadoes are strange beasts,” Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pedersen said.

Global warming?

Some have asked if global warming is causing the bad weather. Meteorologists say no. A meteorologist is a scientist that studies weather.

Scientists say the earth has gotten warmer in recent decades. Ocean temperatures have increased. Some believe warmer oceans have led to more hurricanes.

Last year was the worst hurricane season on record. The bad hurricanes included Hurricane Katrina. It did major damage to New Orleans. 

But tornados are different than hurricanes. They are smaller in size. Ocean temperatures do not affect tornados.

Meteorologists also point to an interesting fact. The number of tornados has increased since 1950. But the number of severe “F2” tornados has declined.

Tornados are rated F1 to F5. The scale is based on wind speed. F5 tornados are the worst. They have winds approaching 300 miles per hour.

The Tennessee tornados packed winds of 170 miles per hour. It left a path of damage across several counties.

“There are entire neighborhoods demolished,” Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell said. “There are houses that are completely gone. There are homes that are shifted on the foundation. All we can do there is stand ready to respond.”

Source: The Tennesseean, The Commercial Appeal, Des Moines Register, The Associated Press, National Weather Service