Here’s a weather story you probably never thought you’d read.
California has had more tornadoes in 2018 than both Kansas and Oklahoma. Yes, we’re talking about one state famous for the tornado that blew Dorothy away in “The Wizard of Oz,” and its neighbor to the south.
Both states can be found in the notorious “Tornado Alley,” while California is hundreds of miles away and more known for suffering through earthquakes.
Kicking off this notable 2018 statistic, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento asked its Twitter followers on Wednesday to identify which of the three states — California, Kansas and Oklahoma — has had the most tornadoes so far this year.
…and the answer is…California.
Specifically, there have been zero tornadoes in both Kansas and Oklahoma in 2018, according to the NWS Storm Prediction Center. There have been four in California. Four.
And there have been plenty across the country, too, as NWS Sacramento points out in this map. And it’s not just not in those two plains states.
Think that’s unusual? Well, get this — Oklahoma is about to break a record for the most days in one year without a tornado since 1962. That year, there wasn’t a tornado until April 26.
How do these states usually fare each year when it comes to tornadoes? Data from the National Centers for Environmental Information shows that, over an almost 20 year period from 1991 to 2010, California averaged 11 tornadoes per year while Kansas averaged 96 and Oklahoma averaged 62.
California’s tornadoes in 2018 include one that dropped in 40 miles north of Sacramento in Wheatland on March 21. It had estimated wind speeds between 65 and 85 miles per hour, causing minor damage.
Surprised? We were too.
This seems like a good time to consult the National Weather Services’ guide for tornado safety.
And for Oklahomans and Kansans reading this, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, has a reminder for you: this slow start to the tornado season does not mean a quiet season entirely. May is usually the busiest month for tornadoes, and there will almost certainly be tornadoes in Oklahoma in 2018, NWS tweeted.
Be safe out there!
by Abby Hamblin (2018, Apr 25) The San Diego Union-Tribune
