It has been an active start to tornado activity in 2024 but how does that compare to this same time last year?

Participants: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

Transcript

Over 120 tornadoes are recorded in the US this year as of mid-March.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey, how does that compare to the same time last year?

We actually had a very active start to the severe weather season last year with a record high 168 tornadoes in the month of January alone.

We're actually running behind the count of the 2023 tornado number, but the fact that we have seen multiple outbreaks extending through all the months of 2024 make it a bit unusual.

Rippey acknowledges a combination of El Niño and unusually mild conditions has allowed active weather to reach farther than usual northern areas for this time of year.

And he reminds us...

The peak of the US severe weather season typically occurs in April, May and June, and with an active weather pattern expected to continue starting again in late March, we do unfortunately expect more severe weather outbreaks.

I'm Rod Bain reporting for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.