Nathan Dombeck

Janesville

To the Editor:

Downed trees, sparking power lines, damaged roofs, and a swath of destruction through the countryside — these are the hallmarks of a tornado. The Midwest has had tornadoes throughout our recorded history, but climate change is driving severe weather like nothing we’ve ever seen.

The average amount of recorded tornadoes across the typical tornado season is 22; Wisconsin has already recorded a whopping 33, and summer has barely started. The potential for severe weather rises with more energy in the atmosphere — this is a given. While the link between climate change and tornadoes has not been conclusively established, it stands to reason that as we pour more planet-warming emissions into our atmosphere and our globe heats up, the frequency and severity of these events will only increase.

This is a call to action, not alarm. If you value your property, your friends and family, your personal safety, and the safety of the plants and animals who call this region home — then the time is now to act on climate change.