Over 900 Reports Of Severe Weather Throughout the United States On Wednesday

It has been a week that has seen the return of severe weather. Severe thunderstorms that have generated hail, high winds, and tornadoes have ravaged much of the country since last Saturday. Yesterday, mother nature continued to rage with over 900 reports of either hail, high winds, or tornadoes. There were a total of 81 tornadoes reported across 11 different states.

Some of the most noteworthy tornadoes were in Smithville, Tennessee, Bedford, Indiana, Sedalia, Missouri, and even several in Butte county, California. More heavy rain as well as some hail struck flood weary Memphis. According to the Weather Channel, May 25th was the second most active severe weather day so far this year behind the 1,476 reports on April 4th. Of the 956 total storm reports on Wednesday courtesy of the Storm Prediction Center, 394 of them were for hail including 49 cases of large hail while there were 480 wind reports including 11 cases of high winds.

So far this season, we have had 1,212 twisters in 2011. The average number of tornadoes over the past ten years is 1,293. The most tornadoes in a year was 1,819 in 2003. After a slow start this month, May 2011 now has had 295 twisters, which is just three shy of the ten year average for the month. The most tornadoes in the month of May was 542 back in 2003. More alarming is the number of deaths from tornadoes. So far in 2011, there have been 508 as of Thursday morning. The most ever was 794 in 1925, which was the year of the deadly Tri-State Tornado.

More rough weather is on tap today. Severe weather can be expected over a vast expanse of the United States from New York and Vermont to Texas. High pressure will help New Jersey avoid getting any severe thunderstorms or tornadoes. Philadelphia, however, may be in the crosshairs for severe weather. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for a wide area of the Tennessee Valley today including Northern Alabama, Northwestern Georgia, Eastern Tennesse, and Western North Carolina. Meanwhile, a Tornado Watch is in effect for extreme Northern New York, and much of Vermont.

Since May 21st, there have been 200 reports of tornadoes in the United States, which is over two thirds of all such reports so far this month. An update on the Joplin Tornado. The death toll has risen some more to 125 dead from Sunday night’s EF5 twister. Up to 900 more people have been injured while 232 remain missing. There have been some successes though as rescue crews have found 17 people.