Ticker for May 6, 2011

                
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May 6, 2011        May 6, 2011        May 6, 2011        May 6, 2011


April tornado record falls for Oklahoma

The numbers are preliminary, but 46 tornadoes have been confirmed by survey teams
from the NWS offices in Tulsa and Norman. That tops the previous high April count
of 40, set back in 1957. Accurate tornado statistics go back to 1950. The next
highest total was 24 set back in 1991, but that year was bolstered by 17
additional tornadoes that touched down during March. And this was all done with
half of the state sitting out the severe weather season for the most part
(western Oklahoma, trying to look all innocent). Here are the top-15 counts
for April, their total for January-April, and how they ended up for the year.

Year	April 	  Jan-Apr   Annual Total
2011     46         47          ???
1957	 40	    44	        107
1991	 24	    41	         73
1984	 23	    29	         50
1995	 22	    24	         79
1965	 21	    24	         74
1956	 20	    23	         49
1960	 19	    28	         98
1999	 19	    26	        145
1996	 18	    19	         48
1964	 17	    17	         53
1979	 17	    22	         51
1993	 17	    23	         64
2009	 17	    24	         34
1968     16         16           55

Remember, the count is still preliminary and could still go up as the storms
are assessed. Of the 46, 41 were weak tornadoes (23 EF0, 18 EF1), three were
EF2, and 1 EF3. The EF3 was the Tushka tornado in Atoka County that killed
two and injured dozens.

I see no predictive skill here for the rest of the year. As always, Oklahomans
should expect an active remainder of the spring ... easier to stay safe and
prepared that way. Remember last year at this time we were sitting on three
tornadoes (and we all know just how painful that can be!) and ended up tying
a record for May with 90 and coming in third on the annual count at 102.

Thanks to NWS-Tulsa Meteorologist in charge Steve Piltz and NWS-Norman
meteorologist/tornado guru Doug Speheger for this info.

Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@mesonet.org