Minnesota Tornadoes: 145 and counting
Minnesota continues to lead the nation in tornado reports this year. The latest tally from the Storm Prediction Center website is 145 tornado reports in Minnesota this year.
That number pretty much blows away states in tornado alley including Texas, which has logged 87 tornado reports this year. Here are the top 7 states in tornado reports from the SPC website as of today.
Minnesota 145
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Texas 87
Kansas 80
Oklahoma 70
North Dakota 68
Colorado 66
Wisconsin 60
Keep in mind that the number of "tornado reports" usually drops by about a third after NWS verifies final numbers. Still, the state rankings should not change too much. That may mean Minnesota claims the crown as the center of tornado alley for the first time on record in 2010. The intensity of the fall severe weather season in the southern states will likely be the deciding factor.
Severe Risk Again:
A slow moving cold front will bring relief to the heat later this week, and will also trigger a possible round of severe storms in the eastern Dakotas today and eastern Minnesota late tonight and Tuesday.
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The highest threat for tornadoes and damaging winds will be in northwest Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas today, but may shift east by Tuesday.
90s adding up:
One reason we've had so much severe weather this summer is that we've had plenty of heat and humidity surging north.
Today looks like day 17 of 90 degree heat in the Twin Cities this summer. We suffered through 94 on Sunday, and dew points surged into the upper 60s and low 70s again.
The average number of 90 degree days is 13 for the metro in a summer.
The Twin Cities NWS logs a weather stat called cooling degree days. The number represents the departure from an average daily temperature of 65 degrees, and gives you an idea of how much energy is required to cool your home.
Since June 1st the metro has logged 876 CDD. That's 364 CDD higher than last year's 512 to date.
Bottom line? You're using about 71% more energy this summer compared to last year to cool your home as you AC hums along.
Stay cool!
PH