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Science/nature/environment

US tornado count down for 2012

(7 Posts)
Bags Sat 01-Dec-12 08:09:18

...by quite a lot.

NOAA SPC’s Greg Carbin writes:

After a busy start, tornado events in the U.S. in 2012 have dropped well below the expected norm. The preliminary total of 886 tornadoes through 30 November 2012 is nearly 400 tornadoes below what might be expected in a “normal” year.

NOAA = the US federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

JessM Sat 01-Dec-12 08:36:20

When I was out there in 2001, and delivering a training course in an office block somewhere (can't remember which city now) I was stranded by cyclone fuelled flooding in Texas and then, near Chicago I think it was, struck by the fact that there was a tornado procedure for the building - all go into the middle of the building, away from the windows. (the opposite of a fire evacuation!)
Struck me then that while in the UK we have weather they have climate.

vampirequeen Sat 01-Dec-12 08:46:44

So is this a blip or a positive aspect of climate change?

I am worried though. If there are no tornadoes how will Dorothy get to Ozsmile

JessM Sat 01-Dec-12 09:32:34

one years results can never make a trend!
Bill Bryson in his book about growing up in the 50s in the mid west is pretty entertaining on the subject of the folks sitting on their porches, watching the tornadoes go past in the distance and telling themselves they will be fine. grin

Bags Sat 01-Dec-12 09:41:01

Even 16 years of results don't make a trend wink.

Bags Sat 01-Dec-12 09:42:06

According to the Met Office.

It's worth remembering that.

Bags Sat 01-Dec-12 09:43:42

But really, this is just in the "Global Warming makes everything Worse (NOT) Department".

And in the Bags is Just Taking the Piss Again Department too.