SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — We are following the above-average severe weather we’ve seen this year. Meteorologist Scot Mundt tells us with what he’s found.
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While we’ve been dealing with cold weather and a wintry mix in KELOLAND, it’s been a different storm to our south with numerous reports of strong to severe weather.
This is a graphic that shows the number of tornado reports. The red color is this year, the black is the average from 2005 to 2015. Tornado reports are up by about 100.
This next graphic is a look at the hail reports. The number this year is at 678, very close to the average of 663.
And finally, the wind reports. These have more than doubled the average with 2500 reports of severe wind compared to the average of 1039. The fact that much of the Texas and the central plains being in drought may be playing a role in the severe wind department.
The fact that the gulf waters are above average may also be a big factor for the higher severe weather numbers. As the warm moist air spreads north and meets with the colder, drier air…thunderstorms develop.
And they’ve been strong to severe, which will most likely continue over the next several days as heavy rain and severe weather is likely well to our south and southeast.