A long-running joke about Tennessee weather has been that if you don’t like it, just hang around a few minutes and it will change. But the joke is starting to be not so funny. The extremes of climate change are turning our normal quirky weather changes into extremes. And into extreme killers.
Tornadoes ripped across Tennessee early Tuesday, shredding scores of buildings and killing at least 24 people.
One of the twisters caused severe damage across downtown Nashville. That tornado tracked along a 10-mile stretch and destroyed at least 48 buildings and shattered the stained glass in a historic church. The Associated Press said hundreds of people have been left homeless.
Roofs and walls were torn away from apartment buildings, leaving exposed living rooms and kitchens. Uprooted trees, mangled power lines and damaged cars made oversized litter on streets, sidewalks and parking lots. Schools, courts, transit lines, an airport and the state Capitol were closed Tuesday. Some polling stations had to be moved just hours before Super Tuesday voting began.
In Putnam County, another tornado ravaged a two-mile swath and claimed at least 14 of fatalities.