No Tornadoes In April 2012!

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
442 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012

…PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT…

…NO CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN ALABAMA FOR APRIL 2012…

MERELY ONE YEAR AFTER ESTABLISHING THE RECORD FOR THE MOST
TORNADOES IN A SINGLE MONTH IN ALABAMA…ACTUALLY BREAKING THE
PREVIOUS ANNUAL RECORD IN A SINGLE MONTH…THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
SINGLE CONFIRMED TORNADO REPORTED IN ALABAMA IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
2012. THE LAST TIME ALABAMA EXPERIENCED A TORNADO-FREE APRIL WAS
IN 2004. THIS RESPITE COMES AS AN OBVIOUS RELIEF TO TORNADO
STRICKEN CITIZENS OF ALABAMA…MANY OF WHOM ARE STILL RECOVERING
FROM THE DEVASTATING APRIL 27TH 2011 OUTBREAK.

WHY SO MANY TORNADOES LAST YEAR AND SO FEW TORNADOES THIS YEAR?
WHILE LAST YEAR`S PATTERN WAS FAVORABLE AND ACTIVE…FOR MUCH OF
SPRING 2012 WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESENCE OF A PATTERN MORE LIKE
EARLY SUMMER…WITH WARMER AND DRIER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS
ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST. A BLOCKING PATTERN IN THE NORTHERN
ATLANTIC HAS MOVED THE POLAR/SUBTROPICAL JETS FURTHER NORTHWARD
ALLOWING FOR AN EXPANSIVE RIDGE/HIGH PRESSURE TO REMAIN IN PLACE
OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN CONUS FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON…WITH LITTLE
CHANCE OF MOVING IT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WHILE THIS PATTERN CHANGE HAS CERTAINLY REDUCED THE THREAT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER IN ALABAMA, IT ALSO HAS BEEN CONDUCIVE FOR SHORT
TERM DROUGHT, WHICH WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE BETTER WITHOUT.

WHILE WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH A MUCH MORE FAVORABLE 2012
SPRING SEASON THUS FAR…EVEN WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A REDUCED
THREAT…IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN VIGILANT AS WE CLOSE OUT THE
SPRING PEAK TORNADO SEASON IN ALABAMA, WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE END
OF MAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK AT
(205) 621-5645 EXT 223, OR BY E-MAIL TO JOHN.DEBLOCK@NOAA.GOV.

JD/02

Category: Alabama's Weather