Good Question: Where Has Our Severe Weather Gone?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Parts of Minnesota saw the first tornado warnings of the season on Wednesday, but they're happening less often than in years past. Where has our severe weather gone? Good Question.
There certainly are storms we remember, ones that caused hail damage to our car or roof, or that took down some trees. But it's been six years since there were a record number of tornadoes.
"It's been a while since we've had some really destructive tornadoes in Minnesota. Part of that is we've had tornadoes but most of them I think have gone unnoticed, certainly not at the time but from a memory standpoint," WCCO Meteorologist Chris Shaffer said.
Minnesota led the nation in 2010 with 113.
"June 17th we had 48 tornadoes in one day, 3 fatalities, that's the outbreak I certainly remember," Shaffer said.
Shaffer calls it the worst weather event he's covered.
While the number of tornadoes was down to 31 the following year, it was memorable
"That would have to be the tornadoes of a few years ago on the North side. That tore up the North side," John Walker said.
There have been fewer than 40 a year since the record-breaking 2010.
That December there was a winter wipe-out, with over 17 inches of snow.
"If you're thinking I don't really remember that. That's the one that took the dome down," Shaffer said.
The reason why severe weather has been calmer the past few years: "Some would argue it's been cooler, some would argue it's been too hot. I just think we haven't had those systems come through that really gather all the ingredients because it takes a lot for a tornado to form. We haven't had those systems come through, bringing it all together. We've been fortunate," Shaffer said.
An average year is 27 tornadoes, with the highest number in June.
