Why Michigan is emerging as one of America's worst-hit climate states

A tornado struck west Ann Arbor at 1:45 a.m. on 15 April, moving through Veterans Memorial Park and damaging mature oak trees and baseball field fences. The tornado then targeted a local ice rink, coming through the parking lot. The pressure differential between the tornado and the air inside the rink collapsed the rink wall. The rink serves about 60,000 users annually across high school hockey, men’s and women’s leagues, and private leagues. Reopening timelines are uncertain, with no opening planned for September and limited expectations for next winter. Michigan also experienced multiple tornado outbreaks earlier in the year, including an EF-3 tornado that killed four people. Tornado activity followed severe flooding and dam and levee risks, prompting FEMA assessments across many counties. Flooding fears could affect spring outdoor recreation and local small businesses.

"The tornado hit west Ann Arbor at 1.45am on 15 April, passing through Veterans Memorial park, where it knocked several mature oak trees and ripped up baseball field fences before setting its sights on a local ice rink. It came up through the parking lot and, in that time, the pressure differential between the tornado and the air inside the rink collapsed the wall, said Scott Spooner, a manager at Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation."

"We had roughly 60,000 people use the rink last year, between high school hockey, men's and women's [and] private leagues. We don't know what the timeline for reopening is [but] we're not going to be opening in September. At this point, it's hard for me to foresee opening next winter at all."

"This was not the only tornado to create havoc in Michigan this year. In March, communities across nine counties were hit by two rounds of devastating tornadoes that killed four people, including a 12-year-old boy, in what was the earliest EF-3 tornado to hit the state in documented history. The state averages 15 tornadoes a year but last year saw 33. This year, it's already experienced 15."

"The tornado outbreaks follow some of the worst flooding the state has seen in decades. Last month, several Michigan dams and levees were at risk of failure, and an evacuation order was issued in Cheboygan in the north of the state. Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) officials this month find themselves on the ground across 30 Michigan counties, assessing the fallout of the tornadoes and flooding."

Read at www.theguardian.com