A Study of Significant Tornadoes Across the High Plains

Tornadoes along the High Plains are likely to occur during the late spring and early summer. While most of the tornadoes that form across the High Plains tend to be weak or non-supercell tornadoes, significant tornadoes (EF-3 or higher) do occur in this region under the proper atmospheric conditions. Several of these stronger tornadoes have had a profound impact in the most populated areas of the High Plains, such as the case with the Windsor Colorado Tornado on 22 May 2008.

With the increase in population along the High Plains corridor over the recent decade, the likelihood of causalities and property damages will increase. The risk associated with significant tornadoes in the region prompts the need for a better understanding, both conceptually and operationally, of these significant tornado events in order to provide the public with significant warnings. The purpose of this research is to identify setups, features, and parameters that can be used to identify environments that are favorable to the formation of significant tornadoes across the High Plains region.