Tornado Drought 2013?

A "Good Drought"

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Georgia Tornado Up Close

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ONWhat about a drought most people love?  Over three weeks into April, it may be safe to say the U.S. is in a short-term tornado drought.

U.S. Tornado Stats

According to Severe Weather Expert, Dr. Greg Forbes (Facebook | Twitter), only 64 tornadoes have touched down in the U.S. so far this April, according to preliminary data through April 24.  

Over the past 10 years (2003-2012), the April average through April 22 is 187 tornadoes.  If the month ended already, it would be the quietest April, tornado-wise, since 1992, according to Dr. Forbes.

2013 U.S. Tornadoes

Preliminary 2013 U.S. tornado reports through April 23. (Image credit: NOAA/NWS/Storm Prediction Center)

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Contrast that with the record-setting April 2011, when an incredible 758 tornadoes recorded, including the massive "Superoutbreak" from April 25-28.  That's almost 12 times the number of April 2013 tornadoes!

(RECAP:  April 2011 Tornadoes {Written in April 2012})

This comes on the heels of the least tornadic March in the U.S. in 35 years.

With that said, we have had some notable tornadoes in 2013, including...

• Adairsville, Ga. (Jan. 30)
  (RECAPS:  Adairsville timeline | Outbreak recap)
• Hattiesburg, Miss. (Feb. 10)
  (RECAPS:  Maps, timeline | News/photos)
• Killer Miss./Ala. Tornado. (Apr. 11)
  (RECAP:  Facts, figures)

Let's delve into why we've slipped into this tornado drought.

http://www.weather.com/news/tornado-central/tornado-drought-20130424