Approximately 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States per year and because of their unpredictable and violent nature, tornadoes remain a focal point in extreme weather conversations. In this Teach-Out, you will learn about the frequency of tornadic events both in the United States and globally, the methods used to assess the strength of tornadoes, what research tells us about their origins and structure, and tornado preparedness and response strategies. You will also explore to what degree scientists believe the frequency and/or intensity of tornadic storms are affected by climate change.

The Teach-Out will address the following questions:
What is a thunderstorm and how do some become severe?
Where are tornadic thunderstorms likely to form?
What are the combination of conditions needed to create a tornadic thunderstorm?
How can you best prepare for a tornado in your community?
Is there any reason to believe that the frequency or intensity of tornadoes is likely to increase in the future due to climate change?

This Teach-Out is part of the Extreme Weather Series, a multi-part examination of the causes of various extreme weather events and to what degree climate change impacts the frequency or intensity of these events. We will also provide participants with strategies and resources to better prepare or respond to extreme weather in their own context.

A Teach-Out is:

-an event – it takes place over a fixed, short period of time

-an opportunity – it is open for free participation to everyone around the world

-a community – it will be joined by a large number of diverse individuals

-a conversation – an opportunity to give and take ideas and information from people

The University of Michigan Teach-Out Series provides just-in-time community learning events for participants around the world to come together in conversation with the U-M campus community, including faculty experts. The U-M Teach-Out Series is part of our deep commitment to engage the public in exploring and understanding the problems, events, and phenomena most important to society.

Teach-Outs are short learning experiences, each focused on a specific current issue. Attendees will come together over a few days not only to learn about a subject or event but also to gain skills. Teach-Outs are open to the world and are designed to bring together individuals with wide-ranging perspectives in respectful and deep conversation. These events are an opportunity for diverse learners and a multitude of experts to come together to ask questions of one another and explore new solutions to the pressing concerns of our global community. Come, join the conversation!

Find new opportunities at Teach-Out.org.