Tornadoes are rare, but summer weather still dangerous

Severe weather awareness is top of mind this time of year, and the Copper Country is no stranger to potential dangers. Meteorologist Matthew Zika of the National Weather Service in Marquette says the entire UP averages only one tornado a year. In its place, we tend to see a phenomenon known as straight line winds. In some instances, they can create conditions on par with a tornadic storm. Zika points to July 18th and 19th last year in parts of Houghton and Baraga Counties.

Straight line winds develop most commonly when a stretch of humid, warm weather is displaced by a cold front. The temperature disparity creates a dynamic environment that fuels downdrafts pushing out in a fan pattern. The area affected can be quite large at times.

Zika says that trailers and campgrounds can be tossed around from straight line winds. He recommends packing radios that you can utilize at nighttime, when visibility is low. Straight line winds and tornadic activity can occur at any time of the day, but is most dangerous for people after the sun sets and darkness makes it impossible to know what is barreling down on you.