Observed zone of increasing wind speeds and tornado events in Tasmania, Australia

While wind speeds around some parts of Tasmania have been observed to be increasing over time, some areas have been decreasing. The increasing wind speeds currently form a zone from the central northern part of Tasmania, through to southeastern Tasmania. Within the increasing wind speed zone (the zone), wind speeds vary from an increasing average of 1.12% to 20.78% every decade. Outside of the zone, the average decreasing wind speeds vary from 0.26% to 11.99% every decade. The frequency of tornado sightings in Tasmania has been steadily increasing since 1928, with approximately 86% occurring within the zone. If the wind speed in the zone continues to increase, tornado events may also correspondingly increase. Despite some remaining concerns about the quality of long-term wind observations, the observed changing patterns may potentially signify the initial conditions of an emerging Tasmanian ‘Tornado Alley’. Although elements leading to these conditions are not yet fully understood, climate change, the Tasmanian geomorphology, and deforestation practices may be contributing factors.