Tornadoes

March 28, 2007 Tornados, originally uploaded by maupin.

It seems to me there are more deadly tornadoes this year.

The USA has been ravaged through mid-May by a near-record number of tornadoes that has pushed the death toll — including 47 killer twisters over the weekend — to a 10-year high.

The deaths of 98 people attributed to tornadoes this year has made 2008 the deadliest year thus far for tornadoes since 1998 and the seventh deadliest since modern recordkeeping began in 1950, The Weather Channel said.

We are no where near record highs. In 1952 there were 230, followed by 519 in 1953.

1. 1953, 519
2. 1974, 366
3. 1965, 301
4. 1953, 230
5. 1958, 193
6. 1971, 159
7. 1968, 131
8. 1998, 130
9. 1955, 129
10. 1984, 122
11. 1967, 114

All other years were below 100, since 1950. What caused the really high numbers? Did tornadoes hit a school full of children? We build better structures now and have a better weather warning system. A NOAA chart for the last three years. The deadliest months are may and June.