Despite early trends that suggested 2008 would set the record for most tornadoes in the United States, last year will fall short of the crown.
Through the end of October, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center had confirmed 1,621 tornadoes around the nation. With only 70 preliminary reports of tornadoes in November and December, 2008 won’t approach the 1,817 tornadoes of 2004.
Still, last year’s total is a strong second compared to the last five years, easily outdistancing the 1,376 of 2003.