If you are new to Kansas, we do have our fair share of tornadoes. In fact, the 10 year average for tornadoes in Kansas is closer to 100, while the 30 year average is closer to 80. Sometimes by this point in the season, we've already had 20 or 30. This year is proving to be quite different, so it might feel weird. However, it is not setting records for latest tornado in a spring season. We would have to go several more weeks before we would threaten those records.
2019 tornadoes (up to April 20): If we look back at the numbers from last year, there were two tornadoes to this point in the year. One was reported in Cowley count with the other in Greenwood county.
2018: NONE - the first tornadoes in that year would come on May 1st, which proved to be a rough day in north central Kansas with tornadoes and damage near Concordia
2017: 14 tornadoes
2016: 3 tornadoes
2015: 20 tornadoes - that year would have a couple of EF3 tornadoes (with a total of more than 100 tornadoes through July 1st)
We say this over and over, but a slow start to the severe season bears no indication of what the remainder of the season has in store. So we have to stay alert and not be complacent just because things have been pretty calm around here.
Around the United States, tornado count is a bit higher than normal (click on the above image to make it bigger). We average roughly 400 tornadoes to this point in the year for the US. The trend right now is nothing unusual and certainly not a record that we are seeing to this point in the year. It does seem that some of the same areas area getting hit over and over again.
Around the United States, tornado count is a bit higher than normal (click on the above image to make it bigger). We average roughly 400 tornadoes to this point in the year for the US. The trend right now is nothing unusual and certainly not a record that we are seeing to this point in the year. It does seem that some of the same areas area getting hit over and over again.
Severe chances are out across the southern Plains next few days. Later this evening, there will be some stronger storms to our south in Oklahoma. Those will move east and stay south of the Kansas/Oklahoma state line. Hail and high winds will be the biggest risk there.
Scattered showers and storms will continue through at least Wednesday evening, so rainfall amounts could look like this when it's over. I do think .25-.50" seems more reasonable given the track of the approaching system. However (as is normally the case), a few spots will probably get a little bit more. The biggest rains should miss us to the south, where Oklahoma gets 1-3" through Wednesday evening.
We are still very much in a pattern that will continue to bring some rain to the Plains. At the beginning of the month, I suggested we might see more severe weather chances given the warmer Gulf of Mexico and a persistent "low" pressure in the west. Fortunately for us, it is has stayed to our south. And even looking into the pattern next week, there doesn't seem to be any big storm systems rotating through this area.
Have a great day.
Have a great day.
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