Oklahoma Tornadoes Kill at Least Four

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The Facts

  • At least four people, including a four-month-old baby, died and 100 were injured Saturday after dozens of tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma.

  • Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday declared an emergency in 12 counties, including Oklahoma County, which holds Oklahoma City. About 80 miles (128 km) south of the city, in a town called Sulphur, at least two tornadoes were reported.

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The Spin

Narrative A

These tornadoes should draw attention to the effects climate change has on wind-based extreme weather. The warming atmosphere has led to more unstable low-level air, which can cause more thunderstorms and more powerful twisters. We shouldn't blame every tornado on climate change, but we should acknowledge the role it's playing.

Green Oklahoma

Narrative B

It's difficult to link tornadoes to climate change because tornado data has only been officially recorded for three decades. Therefore scientists can't say whether there has been a significant change in tornado patterns over a long period of time. All in all, more research must be conducted to draw any conclusions.

Nationalgeographic

Metaculus Prediction