An investigation of low-level thermodynamic characteristics associated with significant and nonsignificant tornadoes in the Southeast United States

A majority of tornado research focuses on the Great Plains region of the United States. Knowledge of tornado environments outside of the Great Plains is limited; this is especially true for the Southeast U.S. In addition, little is known about the role of the lower troposphere on tornadogenesis. Therefore, this study examines low-level thermodynamic parameters associated with tornadoes in the Southeast U.S between 1960 and 2002. Previous studies have shown that higher values of CAPE, 0-3 km CAPE, 0-1 and 0-3 km SRH, and 0-1 and 0-1 km EHI are more likely associated with significant tornadoes. Similar studies have shown that decreasing LCL, LFC heights, and CIN are common with significant tornadoes. This study supports that higher values of shear and instability/shear and lower CIN values are associated with significant tornadoes in the Southeast. However, this study indicates that instability, LCL, and LFC heights may be poor tornado strength discriminators.