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Weather IQ: When is Severe Weather Season?
For the South and the Carolinas, there is a certain time of year that the worst storms and tornadoes typically occur. During Severe Weather Season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — From January to December, the Carolinas have some level of chance for a severe thunderstorm. But that chance drastically heightens during Severe Weather Season.
When and what is Severe Weather Season?
It is this time of the year that produces some of the worst tornadoes, largest hailstones, devastating flooding and intense wind damage.
This infamous season blossoms starting in March and can last as late as June. It is during this time, that is responsible for some of the worst tornado outbreaks in United States history.
Severe weather chances are highest for the South starting in March and April before those probabilities shift north and west May into June.
For the south, the month of April can be considered the heart of severe weather season or another name for it is tornado season.
Historic April Events:
One of the most notorious events for the Carolinas was April 16, 2011.
There were 30 confirmed tornadoes on this day, the greatest one-day total in North Carolina history.
24 people lost their lives, over 400 were reported injured and the damage totaled more than 300 million dollars.
This event came just 11 days before the SUPER OUTBREAK OF 2011. From April 26-28, 349 tornadoes had a total path length of 3200 miles causing 11 billion dollars in damage.
Why this Happens?
During this time extremely warm, moist unstable air is driven from the Gulf of Mexico that duals with cold arctic air from the northwest. This is the perfect recipe for widespread organized severe weather outbreaks.
This set up become common through Spring which has the most temperature swings.
A Secondary Season:
The primary severe weather season of course owns the spotlight but there is technically a second severe weather season. Fall has been known to produce a shorter lived secondary season, which mainly impacts the South, including the Carolinas.