The Central Plains states have really been under the gun for the last several days. And after posting the morning Weather Xtreme Video, I noticed that the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) updated today’s severe weather outlook to include a moderate risk area over parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. So I thought I would look back over the last few days just to see what has happened. Here is what I found.
Over the last four days, SPC has logged 167 tornado reports. Of course, that won’t be 167 tornadoes since many of the reports are from the same tornado. We’ll have to wait about two months for the local NWS offices to compile all the information into Storm Data. However, the preliminary count appears to throw 2008 over the 1000 mark and we have yet to hit the end of May.
Based on the current preliminary numbers, the US is on track to record over 1700 tornadoes this year. This compares to an annual average of 1270.
The current tornado death toll in the US this year is 108 according to my numbers. This is the second highest yearly total since 1995 and second only to 1998 when 132 deaths were reported.
Based on my numbers, Tennessee has seen the most fatalities this year, followed by Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Kentucky (tied), and Alabama and Oklahoma (tied).
The Central Plains is expected to be under the gun some more this week with a large area projected in the Day 4 and Day 5 outlooks.
-Brian-
