As the United States ended the main part of its 2002 tornado season, it had been the slowest season since 1988. Less than half of the average tornadoes had been reported by July 24th.
The end of July marks the end of the main part of tornado season, but tornadoes have been reported in every month of the year. Killer tornadoes had also been in short supply, with only 11 fatalities reported as of July 24th. Typically, 47 people would have lost their lives in tornadoes by the end of July. The average number of fatalities in a given year in the United States is 57.
Improved warning systems save lives, but the 2002 numbers were quite remarkable. The early part of the tornado season featured a marked absence in killer tornadoes. Indeed, the first reported tornado fatality occurred on April 21st, the latest in recorded history.
Meteorologists at the Storm Prediction Center blamed the low numbers of tornadoes on the persistent drought that had gripped most of the country. In addition, a late winter cold spell across the early season tornado breeding grounds of the Deep South contributed to the slow start.
How did the year end? Well, in terms of the number of tornadoes, the 941 tornadoes that occurred in the year was well less than the twenty year average of 1137. The good luck in term of fatalities continued into November with only 15 through October. But then on November 5th, two people were killed in an Election Day tornado in Southeast Alabama and then 36 people died in the Veteran’s Day Tornado Outbreak on November 10th, including 12 in Alabama.
The end of July marks the end of the main part of tornado season, but tornadoes have been reported in every month of the year. Killer tornadoes had also been in short supply, with only 11 fatalities reported as of July 24th. Typically, 47 people would have lost their lives in tornadoes by the end of July. The average number of fatalities in a given year in the United States is 57.
Improved warning systems save lives, but the 2002 numbers were quite remarkable. The early part of the tornado season featured a marked absence in killer tornadoes. Indeed, the first reported tornado fatality occurred on April 21st, the latest in recorded history.
Meteorologists at the Storm Prediction Center blamed the low numbers of tornadoes on the persistent drought that had gripped most of the country. In addition, a late winter cold spell across the early season tornado breeding grounds of the Deep South contributed to the slow start.
How did the year end? Well, in terms of the number of tornadoes, the 941 tornadoes that occurred in the year was well less than the twenty year average of 1137. The good luck in term of fatalities continued into November with only 15 through October. But then on November 5th, two people were killed in an Election Day tornado in Southeast Alabama and then 36 people died in the Veteran’s Day Tornado Outbreak on November 10th, including 12 in Alabama.