Monday, May 20 2013 9:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:15:38 GMT
A massive tornado touched down to the southwest of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon. Starting out as a classic funnel it quickly became a giant half-mile wide wedge tornado as it proceeded east north eastMore >>
A massive tornado touched down to the southwest of Oklahoma City Monday afternoon.More >>
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:50:22 GMT
MOORE, OK (RNN) – In one of the few positive stories to come from the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, an elderly woman was reunited with a four-legged friend she thought was dead. Barbara Garcia, a residentMore >>
Elderly resident Barbara Garcia frantically called for her dog after the tornado had leveled her house, but with no success.More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 7:16 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:16:53 GMT
One person has died in a crash near Harrisonville, MO, Thursday evening. The crash happened on Missouri Highway 7 and Walker Road. It involved a car and a tractor-trailer. Harrisonville is in Cass County.More >>
Savannah Nash celebrated her 16th birthday last week. She died Thursday when her car slammed into a semi while she was texting during her first time driving by herself.More >>
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:56 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:56:05 GMT
A North Carolina woman is charged with trying to poison five family members after one of them refused to share some cheese with her. A statement from the Nash County Sheriff's Office said 24-year-oldMore >>
A North Carolina woman is charged with trying to poison five family members after one of them refused to share some cheese with her.More >>
Last year was an unusually quiet year for tornadoes according to researchers. After a busy 2011 that produced the single deadliest tornado in modern history (158 were killed in the EF-5 tornado in Joplin, MO), 2012 was a year with below average injuries, deaths, damage and the number of twisters itself.
The entire year of 2012 had less fatalities from every tornado in the U.S. than from that one tornado in Joplin and only three more than another violent tornado that hit Tuscaloosa in April of 2011.
While the year on average was quiet, activity from January through April was well above normal. The most active months of May and June were very quiet. That trend persisted until December when 51 tornadoes touched down, including the Mobile tornado that hit on Christmas Day.
Only 936 tornadoes were confirmed last year. Since 1950, the average number is 1146.
Greg Carbin with the Storm Prediction Center prepared the report. He noted that the majority of the tornadoes that did form were classified at EF-0. Carbin cites improved public awareness and better technology in detecting these weak tornadoes.
