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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2001
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Martin Lisius
817.274.9313
info@tempesttours.com
ACTIVE TORNADO SEASON POSSIBLE THIS SPRING ACROSS US
STORM CHASING TOUR GROUP PREPARES FOR BUSY PERIOD
ARLINGTON, Texas - A weakening La Nina across the central equatorial Pacific could lead to an unusually active tornado season this spring across portions of the US. La Nina, also called a "cold episode," is the cooling of waters along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Trends indicate that the current cold episode may have reached maturity and will weaken over the next few months, with near normal-conditions expected by summer 2001. Historical data suggests a possible correlation between a waning La Nina and an increase in tornado activity during the affected spring.
"We're not prepared to make a prediction for this coming spring," said Martin Lisius, president and founder of Texas-based Tempest Tours Storm Chasing Expeditions. "Instead, we are looking for trends that might indicate what we can expect as spring approaches. Data from the last 50 years reveals a handful of springs when Tornado Alley was unusually active coming out of a La Nina event. Naturally, we're keeping an eye on developments as this spring nears," he said. Lisius admits that it's like looking into a blurry crystal ball. "It's difficult to be certain about the connection between a weakening La Nina and an active spring. We would feel more comfortable if we had centuries of data to look at instead of just decades," he said.
Led by a staff of veteran storm chasers, Tempest Tours takes guests into Tornado Alley, a region stretching from Texas to the Dakotas, to intercept some of nature's most potent weather. Five tours, comprised of 12 guests each, are scheduled for May and June, the climatic peak of tornado activity in the US.
People look to Lisius and other storm chasers to predict what Mother Nature will do next. "Each winter, people ask me if I think we're going to have an active spring," he said. "I tell them that it's difficult to forecast weeks ahead. All we can do is look for broad, climatic trends to get a general idea of what to expect. The fact is we have to wait and see what unfolds. That's the nature of weather."
Information about Tempest Tours, including tour schedule and fees, can be accessed on-line at http://www.tempesttours.com. A discussion by the Climatic Prediction Center about El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) can be accessed at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov. A Severe Weather Awareness Week calendar, by state, is available at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/svrawar/severewxcal.shtml.
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Photographic stills available for use with this story upon request.
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