Record Setting Tornado Season

Written By: Brian Neudorff

On June 10th, the Storm Prediction Center, in Norman Oklahoma, that monitors severe weather activity all over the country updated their latest tornado-count graph. This graph shows the past number of tornadoes per month and the current "preliminary count" of tornadoes for 2008.

The 2008 preliminary tornado count has been climbing dramatically. By most accounts, the year is off to a record start in tornado numbers. It is important to understand that the preliminary count for 2008 is based on Local Storm Reports (LSRs) transmitted by local National Weather Service Forecast Offices around the country. The preliminary tornado count is an overestimate because duplicate reports are often transmitted for a single tornado (This is especially true for long-track significant tornadoes!). With time, these numbers are refined and published in the National Weather Service Storm Data publication.

Recent years averaged about 1,200 tornadoes and 60 tornado-related deaths reported annually across the United States. Most tornadoes occur from late winter to mid-summer, mostly in the Southeast in the early part of the season, followed by the Midwestern and Plains states in the later part of the season.

So far in 2008, we have seen over 100 tornado related fatalities in the United States. It could be the deadliest season in a decade. 1998 there were 132 fatalities and in 1984 there 122. 2008 looks like it could equal or exceed that record, but I doubt 2008 will be the deadliest. The deadliest year was 1953, with 519 deaths.