Tornado Trends in Illinois

Here is an example of how the method for collecting data changes over time, causing a signal that looks like climate change. The first figure shows the annual number of tornadoes per year since 1950, regardless of strength. Beginning in the 1990s, the number of tornadoes has increased dramatically with wider variations from year to year.

The second figure shows the lack of any systematic change in the stronger tornado events - those classified as F1 to F5 the original Fujita scale. These represent the stronger tornadoes and are well documented. The figure reveals that no climate trend exists in these stronger events.

The third figure shows the clear upward trend in the number of the weakest F0 tornadoes. These rarely cause any damage and traditionally were ignored. The upward trend in recent years is the result of better radar systems, better spotter networks, and increased awareness and interest by the public. Combined these factors have allowed for a better documentation of the weaker events over time. As a result, the number of observed tornodoes has increased without an indication of any underlying climate change. More information on Illinois tornadoes and the F-scale can be found here