Weather Expert Warns of Troubling Tornado Trend Emerging as Storms Shift East Out of Great Plains

Weather experts are noticing a troubling new trend emerging in the United States region prone to tornado formation.

The powerful storms are shifting east out of the traditional Tornado Alley over the Great Plains and into more densely populated areas unaccustomed and ill-prepared to face such severe weather events.

Northern Illinois University scientist Walker Ashley reports explosive recent growth in tornado numbers and human exposure risk in southern states like Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Population growth in these areas means more people and property sit vulnerable to the path of destruction tornadoes leave behind. The expanded area, which is now at higher risk, has been dubbed the "expanded bullseye."

Warmer winters, courtesy of climate change, are a prime suspect behind the eastward creep of tornado activity.