Hundreds of tornadoes have struck the Southern and Midwestern U.S. since late April, claiming hundreds of lives. Experts say it's hard to link them with climate change.
In the 24 hours starting at 8 AM on the 27th of April, a record 312 tornados hit the southern United States, with a record 340 deaths.
On the 22nd of May, a massive tornado hit Joplin city in the midwestern state of Missouri, killing 124 people, a record for a single hit. The National Weather Service says the United States is on pace to break its record for deaths from tornadoes this season.
Experts are cautious in linking the tornadoes to climate change. They say if long-time climate change is the cause, there should be a repeat of the string of storms. Some are predicting the jet stream created by the mild air circulation around the North Pole could trigger floods in the Midwestern U.S. in summer.