Today, we continue our look back at the 2004 U.S. Tornado Season. As we said yesterday, 2004 was a record year for tornadoes across the United States. Despite the record number of twisters, the number of fatalities from tornadoes was much lower than average. Only thirty five deaths were reported this season, which is in the top ten years for fewest deaths since 1940. The ten year average is sixty four fatalities in a given year.
There was no tornado fatality across the nation until April 20th. This marked a very late date for the first tornado fatality. We came very close to setting a new record for the latest occurrence of the first tornado fatality. The mark was set on April 21, 2002, Over fifty tornadoes were reported on April 20th, including an F3 tornado that struck North Utica, Illinois, about ninety miles southwest of Chicago. Eight people perished in the twister, trapped in the rubble of the Milestone Tap, a neighborhood tavern. It was the year’s deadliest twister. Illinois led the nation in tornado fatalities in 2004, with nine.
The eight fatalities in Utica occurred in a permanent building. Nine of the year’s fatalities occurred in permanent buildings. Fourteen occurred in mobile homes. Ten fatalities occurred in houses. Two people died in vehicles.
The 135 tornadoes observed in April were very close to the average for the month, which marks the traditional beginning of tornado season across the country. During the week of April 17-23, over one thousand reports of severe weather were received across the nation.
A warm, and humid airmass covered much of the Plains states in May. This led to lots of severe weather. A total of 526 tornadoes were reported during the month. This was nearly as many as the record for any single month set just one year ago in May 2003 when 543 tornadoes were observed. Only three of the 526 twisters resulted in fatalities. Only five people lost their lives in tornadoes during the month. A nighttime F4 tornado at Hallum, Nebraska on the 22nd killed one person. A high risk severe weather situation on May 29 resulted in ninety three tornado reports, including F4 that caused three deaths at Weatherly, Missouri. Once again there were no F5 tornadoes this year. There has been none since May 3, 1999. More tomorrow...
There was no tornado fatality across the nation until April 20th. This marked a very late date for the first tornado fatality. We came very close to setting a new record for the latest occurrence of the first tornado fatality. The mark was set on April 21, 2002, Over fifty tornadoes were reported on April 20th, including an F3 tornado that struck North Utica, Illinois, about ninety miles southwest of Chicago. Eight people perished in the twister, trapped in the rubble of the Milestone Tap, a neighborhood tavern. It was the year’s deadliest twister. Illinois led the nation in tornado fatalities in 2004, with nine.
The eight fatalities in Utica occurred in a permanent building. Nine of the year’s fatalities occurred in permanent buildings. Fourteen occurred in mobile homes. Ten fatalities occurred in houses. Two people died in vehicles.
The 135 tornadoes observed in April were very close to the average for the month, which marks the traditional beginning of tornado season across the country. During the week of April 17-23, over one thousand reports of severe weather were received across the nation.
A warm, and humid airmass covered much of the Plains states in May. This led to lots of severe weather. A total of 526 tornadoes were reported during the month. This was nearly as many as the record for any single month set just one year ago in May 2003 when 543 tornadoes were observed. Only three of the 526 twisters resulted in fatalities. Only five people lost their lives in tornadoes during the month. A nighttime F4 tornado at Hallum, Nebraska on the 22nd killed one person. A high risk severe weather situation on May 29 resulted in ninety three tornado reports, including F4 that caused three deaths at Weatherly, Missouri. Once again there were no F5 tornadoes this year. There has been none since May 3, 1999. More tomorrow...