Since 1900, there have been a total of ninety four recorded F5 tornadoes in the United States. Ninety four in one hundred and six years means that they are very rare occurrences. Thank goodness.

1900-1909 4 F5 tornadoes
1910-1919 5 F5 tornadoes
1920-1929 6 F5 tornadoes
1930-1939 5 F5 tornadoes
1940-1949 6 F5 tornadoes
1950-1959 13 F5 tornadoes
1960-1969 15 F5 tornadoes
1970-1979 13 F5 tornadoes (6 on April 3, 1974)
1980-1989 3 F5 tornadoes
1990-1999 10 F5 tornadoes

Here is where it gets interesting. There has not been an F5 tornado in the United States since the Oklahoma City tornado of May 3, 1999. That is six years and 250 days since the last one. According to my records, that is the longest period since 1900 that the U.S. has gone without an F5 occurring. The previous record appears to have been the period from April 4, 1977 (the Smithfield Tornado) until April 2, 1982 - just under five years.

Unfortunately, this streak cannot continue forever, but it is one that we can live with.

- Bill Murray

The Saturday map discussion video is on the server at:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

We're waking up to a much warmer morning as early morning temperatures are 10 to 12 degrees warmer than our lows yesterday. And we should have a very warm January day with plenty of sunshine and good warm air advection. Afternoon temperatures should climb into the 60s with some spots pushing the 70-degree mark. The ony drawback to the day will be high wind. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for the area generally north of Interstate 20 and a Lake Wind Advisory for the area south of Interstate 20. A Wind Advisory means sustained winds over 20 mph with gusts over 30. Winds gusts could reach 40 mph especially in large open areas and on higher terrain.

A cold front, and I'm using the term loosely, enters northwest Alabama on Monday and stalls out across the area through mid-week. We'll see a series of short waves moving through the zonal southwesterly flow that will help to enhance rain chances from time to time, but it's difficult to be specific on the timing of these weak impulses.

The GFS is developing a much stronger trough once again on Friday as a much deeper trough develops over the eastern half of the country. The GFS pattern is a little suspect because it just looks too sharp. But if a deeper trough does develop, we'll see a return to colder air at least for a day or two for the start of next weekend.

With a front in the area for several days, it should be the focus for some showers, but the QPF of over 2.5 inches seems a little high for this kind of pattern.

Hope you've had a good weekend. Be sure to be careful out there today with the high wind if you are going to be doing much outside, especially boating.

-Brian-