- April 1, 2026, 3:30 pm US/Central
- Prof. Victor Gensini, NIU
- Tom Junk
Severe thunderstorms have shaped communities, landscapes, and lives for as long as humans have kept records of the weather. From historic tornado outbreaks and destructive hailstorms to today’s increasingly high-impact events, these storms remain among nature’s most powerful, and least understood, hazards.
This talk explores how our understanding of severe thunderstorms has evolved over time. We begin with a look at the past: how early observations, eyewitness accounts, and the first weather maps helped scientists recognize patterns in tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. We then move to the present, highlighting how modern tools (e.g., weather radar, satellites, storm-scale computer models, and field experiments) have dramatically improved our ability to observe, forecast, and warn for severe weather, saving lives and reducing risk.
Finally, we look ahead to the future. How might a warming climate influence severe thunderstorms? Are tornadoes becoming more common, or simply better observed? What does the future hold for hailstorms, extreme rainfall, and high-wind events. What uncertainties remain? The talk concludes by discussing how science, technology, and communication must work together to build more weather-ready communities in an era of growing exposure and vulnerability.