Chihuahua, located in northern Mexico, is one of the states that frequently faces the fury of tornadoes. According to data collected by Professor María Asunción Avendaño García of the College of Geography of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, this entity has recorded 63 tornadoes between 2000 and 2023.
Chihuahua has recorded “air snake” tornadoes
These meteorological phenomena manifest as rotating columns of air, known locally as “air snakes” due to their serpentine appearance, as exemplified by tornadoes categorized with the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF). Most tornadoes in Mexico are classified as EF0 and EF1, which are considered weak, but can still cause significant damage to structures and vegetation.
Tornadoes in Chihuahua and other states such as Veracruz (70) and the State of Mexico (75) are generally non-supercellular, meaning they do not originate from severe storms with mesocyclones.
Contrary to the situation in Chihuahua, Veracruz and the State of Mexico, other entities in the country experience a very low incidence of tornadoes. These include Aguascalientes, Baja California and Durango, each with only three or four tornadoes recorded in the same period.
The low occurrence of tornadoes in these states is due to various geographic and climatic reasons that reduce the conditions necessary for the formation of these phenomena.
In which season are more tornadoes recorded in Mexico?
Tornadoes in Mexico show a clear seasonality, being most common in the months of May, July and August. During the winter, tornadic activity decreases considerably, with December, November and January recording the lowest number of tornadoes. This suggests a correlation with the prevailing weather conditions during these seasons, where heat and humidity favor the formation of tornadoes.
Source: noro
