ST. LOUIS — Residents around the St. Louis region may have trouble falling asleep Tuesday night as the area is expected to get hit with the latest waves of severe storms and possible tornadoes.
Storms are expected to roll into the region sometime after 8 p.m. Tuesday night, and could go until Wednesday morning, according to 5 On Your Side meteorologists. The timing, coupled with the tornado chances, elevates the storms' danger.
Why are nocturnal tornadoes more deadly?
Tornadoes that touch down at night, also known as "nocturnal tornadoes," are twice as likely to be deadly as daytime tornadoes, according to a 2022 study published in the Weather, Climate and Society peer-reviewed journal.
The study found that while tornado fatality rates in the U.S. have steadily fallen since 1880, the percentage of all tornado fatalities that occurred between sunset and sunrise over the last 140 years has nearly doubled. Tornado fatalities between midnight and sunrise, specifically, have increased 400% during the same period.
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The Weather Channel lists numerous reasons why nocturnal tornadoes have a higher fatality risk than daytime tornadoes, including:
- People are often asleep and do not hear outdoor tornado warnings
- People are usually at home rather than more study structures like places of work or schools
- Tornadoes are harder to see at night, with lightning usually being the only source of light during nighttime storms
- Fewer storm spotters are willing to risk storm chasing at night due to the danger
How to be safe during a nocturnal tornado in St. Louis
- Download the free 5 On Your Side app to get the latest watches and warnings and track conditions live with our interactive radar. Use the links below to download now.
- Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your smartphone.
- Buy a NOAA weather radio, which will loudly sound alerts when a National Weather Service tornado or severe thunderstorm water or warning is issued.
- Register with the St. Louis County Emergency Management Agency for weather and emergency alerts by texting SLCOEM to 78015.
- Download the Federal Emergency Management Agency app and allow it to send emergency pushes.
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