Cause of America's brutal tornado season revealed amid devastating damage ... trends now
The US is suffering a worse tornado season than usual this year with 670 so far already.
That is about 100 higher than average, which has led many commentators to blame climate change.
But a top meteorologist told DailyMail.com that the surge is due to a simple, natural phenomenon.
Every seven or so years El Nino forms, which is caused by a shift in the distribution of warm water in the Pacific Ocean around the equator, bringing an atmospheric wave through the US.
That weather pattern combines with the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, changing wind speeds and directions that form tornados.
The US is experiencing an upswing of deadly tornadoes as 670 cyclones have swept the nation in 2024 - but it could be a record year depending on hurricane season. Experts have said this year could surpass the record if the US has an above average hurricane season
As of now, experts have predicted between 1,250 and 1,375 tornadoes in total this year Pictured: Tornado sweeping through Mendon, Michigan
The historical average for January through May 8 is about 599 tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The only years when there were more tornadoes through May 8 were 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2017.
Senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok with weather forecasting AccuWeather told DailyMail.com that the the US is predicted to experience between 1,250 and 1,375 tornadoes in total this year.
Hurricane season runs from June until November, and has all the makings for tornadoes.
The storms carry multiple supercell thunderstorms with both warm and cold air, and create wind shear, an abrupt change in wind speed and direction which can create swirling vortices of air - tornadoes.
Meteorologists reported that 2024 would shape up to be a big year for tornadoes in early January, and predicted that the US would see a 'significant increase in tornadoes' in April and May.
That is because El Nino tends to bring increased moisture and instability to the atmosphere, creating conditions favorable for tornadoes.
More than 600 tornadoes have struck the US already this year, reaching Texas, Iowa, Michigan
