If it feels like the number of tornadoes this year has been way above average, you’re right. Spring is the peak of severe weather season across the United States, but 2024 has been incredibly active, particularly over the past few weeks, which has sent the annual tornado count toward record territory.
As AccuWeather reports, as of last week, there have been 699 preliminary tornado reports across the United States, well above the historical average of 549 through May 8, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. There have been 129 preliminary reports so far in May, following 378 twisters in April.
The only years when there were more tornadoes through May 8 were 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2017.
Tornado Alley has roared back to life, a major shift from recent years when twisters favored the Gulf Coast states and Tennessee Valley. The majority of tornadoes in 2024 have touched down in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Ohio has also experienced a surge in tornadoes, with 54 reports so far this spring. The annual tornado count was running near to slightly below the historical average through mid-April, but a shift in the weather pattern opened the door for tornado-producing thunderstorms to develop more frequently across the central United States.
There have been so many tornadoes and the accompanying tornado warnings, there have been reports of people experiencing “tornado fatigue,” a dangerous state of mind where people hear the warning, and yet wonder whether they really need to move to their safe spot when they hear the sirens, especially if it means waking up the kids in the middle of the night.
But Alex McCarthy, the director of emergency management in Delaware County, Ohio, said that’s the wrong approach to take as severe weather season continues. “The bottom line is tornadoes are going to continue to be a hazard here in Ohio throughout the remainder of the year and years to come and they are dangerous. I mean you can see tornadoes that can generally do damage to homes, we’ve unfortunately had a few fatalities across the state here due to tornadoes and even though we’re finding tornado warnings are issued more and more frequently right now, it’s still important that people take the precautions,” McCarthy said.
As a reminder, McCarthy said during a tornado warning, people should always go to the lowest level of their home or an interior room to give you the best chance of staying safe if a tornado were to hit your home.
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