Pettis County EMA Director Dave Clippert recently released a report reviewing Missouri's severe weather trends in 2013. In recent years, the amount of tornadoes have gone down for most of the country, but not in Missouri. According to Clippert, Missouri experienced 54 tornadoes in 2013, compared to 32 tornadoes in 2012.

One of the worst tornadoes to hit our area was an EF-1. The EF-1 reached speeds close to 95 MPH. It touched down just East of Knob Noster before traveling about 14.5 miles to the highway junction D and H.

For the rest of the United States, tornadoes were down this year. On average, there are 1200 tornado strikes a year in the US. In 2013, there were only 891 compared to 936 in 2012. Tornadoes causing death and the number of deaths due to tornadoes were also lower across the US. In 2013 there were 22 killer tornadoes and 54 fatalities. In 2012 there were 59 killer tornadoes and 70 fatalities.

The worst tornado of 2013 hit just south of Oklahoma City on May 20. It was an EF-5 with winds reaching 200 MPH. It killed 23 people, nearly half of the 2013 total of fatalities. It also injured over 300 and destroyed homes and business.

In addition to tornadoes, Missouri also had a problem with flooding in 2013. Some counties received seven to eight inches within 24 hours. Missouri had two Presidential Disaster Declarations due to flooding in 2013.

We have about six more weeks left of winter, and we have already had the "Polar Vortex" across the country along with ver icy conditions. After that, we will start the spring storms and see where the weather goes form there. Stay safe!

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