Boris Konon
EF4
Attached is the annual U.S tornado stats updated through 2015.
Estimated actual tornado count is 92% of average for 2015 (1253 is average),
which is 200 more than the any of the modern day record low counts of the
previous 3 years.
The 34 fatalities is in a 3-way tie for 11th for the lowest fatalities in a calendar
year since 1950. This is 4th consecutive year of decline of tornado fatalities.
The 13 killer tornadoes is in a 4-way tie for the 6th lowest on record since 1950.
This is also the 4th consecutive year of decline of killer tornadoes.
3 violent tornadoes (all EF4) in 2015. This is in a 5-way tie for the 3rd lowest in a
year on record since 1950. The average is 9-10 a year.
This talk by some outlets about December having the most tornado fatalities in a
year since 1875 and how so "unusual" it is. Well, at first glance it is, but looking at
what happened for the entire year 2015, it is not. What tends to be omitted in articles/
news stories by some is that through 12/23, the 10 fatalities were the lowest on
record for so far in any year since 1950 at least. So exceeding that count (24
fatalities in one month) is not that "difficult" (for the lack of a better term). Double or
tripling an amount when that amount is record low, still gives you a number that is low
(11th lowest out of 66 years). Having December with the highest death toll for a year
is not "difficult" either when all other months were very low or zero.
Don't get me wrong, what happened in December was tragic, but I think it is important
to look at events meteorologically and objectively as for its proper context and
perspective.
Estimated actual tornado count is 92% of average for 2015 (1253 is average),
which is 200 more than the any of the modern day record low counts of the
previous 3 years.
The 34 fatalities is in a 3-way tie for 11th for the lowest fatalities in a calendar
year since 1950. This is 4th consecutive year of decline of tornado fatalities.
The 13 killer tornadoes is in a 4-way tie for the 6th lowest on record since 1950.
This is also the 4th consecutive year of decline of killer tornadoes.
3 violent tornadoes (all EF4) in 2015. This is in a 5-way tie for the 3rd lowest in a
year on record since 1950. The average is 9-10 a year.
This talk by some outlets about December having the most tornado fatalities in a
year since 1875 and how so "unusual" it is. Well, at first glance it is, but looking at
what happened for the entire year 2015, it is not. What tends to be omitted in articles/
news stories by some is that through 12/23, the 10 fatalities were the lowest on
record for so far in any year since 1950 at least. So exceeding that count (24
fatalities in one month) is not that "difficult" (for the lack of a better term). Double or
tripling an amount when that amount is record low, still gives you a number that is low
(11th lowest out of 66 years). Having December with the highest death toll for a year
is not "difficult" either when all other months were very low or zero.
Don't get me wrong, what happened in December was tragic, but I think it is important
to look at events meteorologically and objectively as for its proper context and
perspective.
