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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
926 PM CDT Sun Apr 21 2019

...2019 ALABAMA TORNADO COUNT ADDING UP QUICKLY...

Alabama averages 12.6 tornado days a year, based on the 30-year 
average (1989-2018). Through April 21st, Alabama has had nearly the 
yearly average days of occurrence at 9 days. So on these 9 days in 
2019, a whopping 53 tornadoes have occurred. The 53 tornadoes 
recorded before the end of April ranks second all time behind the 
infamous 2011. Additionally, the 53 tornadoes in 2019 rank as the
13th highest yearly total to occur since 1950. In 2018, Alabama 
suffered 46 tornado occurrences the entire year. We have also leaped 
passed this number already, early into 2019.

The 30-year average count for Alabama tornadoes in an entire year is
47. Therefore, we have already eclipsed the yearly average and we 
are not even through the Spring Severe Weather Season. Spring 
Severe Weather Season is loosely referred to as the period from March 
through May. This is the time of year where the greatest number of 
tornadoes develop. March 2019 was record setting. We observed 28
tornadoes in March this year, which is the highest total for March
since 1950. April arrived and tornadoes continued forming, in fact,
16 tornadoes dropped from the skies. This number is the 7th highest
total for April since 1950. If we add these two numbers together for
the Spring Severe Weather Season, we are already up to 44 tornadoes.
If we take into account just March and April statistics, this is the
second highest amount recorded behind the infamous 2011 again.

The 2019 tornado occurrences have been heavily weighted toward the
EF0/EF1 tornado intensity rating. There have been 24 EF0's and 23
EF1's that have touched down in Alabama this year. These tornadoes
have produced significant damage, but luckily did not cause many
serious injuries. But Alabama also had 5 EF2's and one EF4 tornado.
EF4's are relative rare with only 35 occurrences in Alabama since
1950. Unfortunately, these stronger tornadoes have a greater chance
for causing injuries and fatalities. The Beauregard-Smiths Station
EF4 tornado injured and killed dozens of Alabamians. 

2019 still has a long way to go. Severe Weather will likely occur
again this year. Please remember the following; A) Tornadoes occur 
more frequently in March, April, May, November, and December, but 
they do occur in every month of the year in Alabama, B) Tornadoes 
occur more frequently between noon and 7 pm, but they do occur at 
every hour in Alabama, C) All tornado intensities occur in Alabama, 
D) Tornadoes occur more frequently near the coast and across north 
Alabama, but tornadoes of varying intensities have touched down in 
every county in the state.

Stay Safe Alabama!! 


...TORNADO SAFETY TIPS...

1) Leave your mobile home when severe weather approaches for a
   sturdier shelter

2) Find a safe and proper Tornado Shelter

3) Have multiple ways to receive Tornado Watches and Tornado 
   Warnings

4) Be able to identify your location on a map

5) Teach others map skills so we all know if there is threat near us

6) Share important weather information with those that may not be
   aware of a threat 

7) Have a safety plan and an emergency kit ready to go

8) Don't rely on outdoor tornado sirens

9) Treat Severe Thunderstorms Warnings seriously, tornadoes can form
   quickly with little advance warning at times


$$

Linhares