USA today recently published an article about the difference in the number of Tornadoes between this year and last.
2011 produced approximately 1,700 tornadoes, which killed 553 people. This calendar year has only produced 750 so far (950 less than last year, and 750 less than average). Meteorologists think that we could set a all-time low this year if this trend keeps up for the remaining warm months.
Meteorologists suggest that the same driving effects behind the drought this summer are resulting in fewer tornadoes this year. (Trade one disaster for another?) The article states,
"The same weather pattern that created the devastating drought was a factor in the quiet tornado year, according to meteorologist Mike Smith of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions in Wichita, Kan. He says that for much of the year, a large area of high pressure sat over the West Coast and the Rockies, which kept storms from moving into the central USA, the nation's tornado hotbed."
So far tornadoes have only claimed 68 American lives this year, mostly occuring in February and March.
It will be interesting to see how the fall months are for tornadoes and if this year winds up being the quietest ever recorded.
In a year where the entire world is supposed to (according to the ever trusty Mayans) go down the shitter, it's nice to at least have a quiet tornado season.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2012/09/29/tornadoes-record-quiet-year/1598117/
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