Storm Chaser Believes Global Warming Responsible for Early Activity in Tornado Alley - MSNBC

ARLINGTON, TX - 22-year veteran storm chaser Martin Lisius tracked the supercell thunderstorm that produced tornadoes in the Texas-Oklahoma Red River area yesterday. He believes that global warming is causing earlier severe weather activity on the US Southern Plains.

"Over the past several years, I've seen an earlier arrival of spring, particularly in North Texas and Oklahoma," Lisius said. "March used to be what we considered the start of tornado season here, but February is looking more like March did. I'm even planting my tomatoes a little earlier each year."

Severe Weather: Oklahoma has had 44 February tornadoes since 1950

National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Speheger in Norman said Oklahoma has had 44 February tornadoes since 1950.
The most recent February twister before Tuesday’s spurt occurred Feb. 24, 2000, in Ellis and Harper counties in western Oklahoma, damaging a hog barn and downing power lines, according to weather service records.