One Year Since the Last Tornado Warning

Not that anyone is complaining, but with only 2 weak tornadoes forming in West Tennessee in May, it's been a relatively quiet year for severe weather. The Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Henry and Benton counties Monday evening was the first time a warning has been issued in West Tennessee since August 15th. We haven't had a tornado warning issued anywhere in West Tennessee since October 13th - of last year.

This "tornado drought" isn't unprecedented as the past 3 years have had less than 4 tornadoes occur each year in West Tennessee. In the last decade, the largest tornado outbreaks have happened in 2010, 2008, and 2006 when at least 10 tornadoes occurred during each of those years in this area.

However, if you look at it in terms of how many tornado warnings were issued each year over the last decade, 2015 really stands out! There have been 0 tornado warnings issued in West Tennessee in 2015 and that only comes close to 2007 when 5 warnings were issued throughout the entire year.

According to Zachary Maye with the National Weather Service in Memphis, the longest West Tennessee went without a tornado warning was from June 9, 1986 to December 15, 1987 which adds up to 554 days. That number still far surpasses the 365 days we're at now.

West Tennessee is going to be dealing with the effects of El Niño this winter which occurs when temperatures of the water in the Pacific Ocean are warmer than average. The weather in West Tennessee is typically not severe during El Niño but as we transition out of El Niño into La Niña, things often become more active. We might see an increase in severe weather next year and in 2017. 

Overall, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing severe weather again in the immediate future but the months of November and December typically see a bump in tornado frequency so it's always best to be prepared just in case!

For now, enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful Fall weekend ahead...