By Tammie Souza, FOX 32 News Weekend Meteorologist - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
The weather of 2012 will forever be known for severe drought, record-breaking heat and Super Storm "Sandy." It will also be known for the lack of tornadoes and tornado deaths.
According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma there were 936 tornadoes in the United States in 2012 which is the fewest twisters in a single year since 1954 and well below the yearly average of 1300.
In 2012, there were also 68 tornado deaths which is below the average of 91 deaths. Just one year earlier in 2011, we had one of the most active and deadly tornado years on record with 1692 tornadoes and 533 deaths. We have also set a new record for the number of consecutive days without a tornado related death. We are at 201 days and counting. The old record was 197 days from August 1986-February 1997.
Experts believe the extreme heat and drought that encompassed much of the nation's heartland last year was the main factor. Lacking were the necessary ingredients of moisture and strong winds aloft. Instead, we had a dome of high pressure across much of the nation with little moisture and sluggish winds aloft.
2012 did start out with a busy February and early March including the Harrisburg, Illinois EF-4 rated tornado which killed six people. That was the deadliest tornado in Illinois since Utica outside of Chicago in 2004. The United States ranks #1 in the world for the number of tornadoes each year. Ironically, Canada had more tornadoes than us in 2012.
Statistics courtesy of NOAA and ClimateCentral.org
Tuesday, January 22 2013 2:26 PM EST2013-01-22 19:26:59 GMT
Chicago ended an impressive 711 day streak without a sub-zero temperature Tuesday morning. That is the 4th longest such stretch since records began in 1871.
Chicago ended an impressive 711 day streak without a sub-zero temperature Tuesday morning. That is the 4th longest such stretch since records began in 1871.
Friday, January 18 2013 11:18 PM EST2013-01-19 04:18:05 GMT
Frigid Arctic air has been pent up across the Hudson Bay area for several weeks now stuck under the influence a strong polar area of low pressure also known as the "polar vortex."
Frigid Arctic air has been pent up across the Hudson Bay area for several weeks now stuck under the influence a strong polar area of low pressure also known as the "polar vortex."
Friday, January 18 2013 3:41 PM EST2013-01-18 20:41:23 GMT
The U.S. drought of 2012 is considered the worst since the 1950s, but there appears to be some brief relief.
The U.S. drought of 2012 is considered the worst since the 1950s, but there appears to be some brief relief thanks to recent soaking rains stretching from the south through the southeast and the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic states.
Monday, December 3 2012 7:18 PM EST2012-12-04 00:18:16 GMT
Warm, moist air streamed into the Chicago area today and although we were blanketed in fog and clouds, the temperatures soared to record highs between 68 and 72 degrees.
Warm, moist air streamed into the Chicago area today and although we were blanketed in fog and clouds, the temperatures soared to record highs between 68 and 72 degrees.
