Tornado Quest Top Science Links For April 5 – 12, 2025 #science #weather #climate #climatechange #drought #tornado #health

Infographic courtesy NOAA/National Weather Service

Greetings to all and thanks for stopping by. The tornado and severe weather season is well underway with 2025 having already seen several substantial severe weather and tornado events. The bulk of the activity is yet to come. Your tornado safety information will be posted again this week along with a reminder on lightning safety. As usual, there are several thought provoking science reads along with the updated US Drought Monitor, so let’s get started.

Tornado Quest podcast for April 5 – 12, 2025

Let’s start this week with a very thought provoking read. In spite of recent assaults and attacks on the scientific community, “now is not the time for despair” takes on a new meaning.
How important is scientific research? Important enough to be considered the lifeblood of our economy.
It’s an unfortunate fact that most (if not all) politicians or people involved in law making and/or public policy do not have a thorough knowledge of science.
In 2025, this should not be happening. Furthermore, we have the tools to prevent this, but some prefer to fearfully recoil into the dark ages for various (and nefarious) political, cultural, or religious reasons.
We don’t think of pollution when we think of fashion and clothing, but this video will show you a side of this environmental issue that will be a new thought provoking topic for many.
With seasons changing across many continents, sea ice cover isn’t a topic on the mind of many, but its current state is something that should be a topic of concern.
How bad is the staffing shortage at the USA’s National Weather Service? Bad enough to compromise weather forecasts, tornado damage path surveys, sounding data collection, and a host of other critical elements that directly affect you…the American citizen.
Speaking of the National Weather Service, translation of weather forecast and warning products, many of which are life saving, is going to stop effective immediately.
There are three very important NASA satellites that will soon be inoperable. Read why this is a very important issue for all of us.
Why are tornado damage surveys done by NOAA’s National Weather Service important? Read why these surveys are crucial to understanding tornado occurrence patterns in the USA…the country that has more tornadoes than any other nation on earth.
Here’s something for all of the folks interested in weather and playing a part in contributing to science as a citizen scientist. Check out the CoCoRaHS project! Your daily precipitation reports, even when no precipitation has occurred, are part of very important weather data forecasting models and data archives!
With the increase in severe weather and tornado activity across much of the USA, remember to check your NOAA weather radio’s operation and its batteries. NOAA has a comprehensive page on NOAA weather radio…a feature of the National weather Service in the USA that has saved countless lives.

Here’s the latest update on the US Drought Monitor. Across much of the contiguous USA, drought conditions have changed very little in the past week. Many states west of the Mississippi River have seen little relief as well as much of the east coast. Extreme to exceptional drought conditions continue to persist from Texas west to Nevada and California. The latest fire weather outlooks can be found at the Storm Prediction Center website where they are updated daily.

SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY

Please note; Much of the preceding information may not be available/updated in the future due to unnecessary firings en masse at NOAA and the National Weather Service.

THUNDERSTORMS, TORNADOES, AND LIGHTNING…NATURES MOST VIOLENT STORMS

TORNADO SAFETY FROM NOAA’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER

THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TORNADOES FROM NOAA’S STORM PREDICTION CENTER

HOW TO BUILD AN EMERGENCY KIT – INFORMATION COURTESY READY.GOV