Professor on connection between climate change to increase in tornadoes in Georgia

May 15th, 2023

The storm-damaged roof of a Hobby Lobby store is shown Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, in Griffin, Ga. Powerful storms passed through Thursday causing tornadoes. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

According to historic data, Georgia averages about 30 tornadoes per year.

But the National Weather Service says the Peach State surpassed that number in mid-February of this year.

Last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranked Georgia among the top ten states for tornadic activity with 56 twisters ripping through the state.

On Monday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Walker Ashley, an atmospheric scientist, disaster geographer and a professor of meteorology at Northern Illinois University, talked with show host Rose Scott about the connection between climate change and the recent rise in tornadoes in Georgia.