Hazards Stats for 2014

As we’re approaching the end of 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has completed the full set of weather fatalities for 2014. As you might expect, deaths from weather are generally down compared with both the 10-year and 30-year averages. After 2011, we could all enjoy a long period of quiet weather.

Looking closely at the statistics, though, may reveal a bit of a surprise. If you were asked what weather type accounted for the most weather fatalities in 2014, I wager that you probably would not pick the right one. While it was a close race between wind and rip currents, rip currents was the biggest weather-related killer in 2014 with 57 total deaths. 30-year averages are not yet available since NOAA began counting heat, cold, winter, wind, and rip current numbers after 1986.

I also find it interesting that heat gets first place for weather fatalities over the last 10 years. Somehow, heat and cold don’t seem to rate as high as tornadoes or hurricane when it comes to severity. But heat and cold are very sneaky since these events don’t usually occur with a bang, but rather sneak up on us over a period of time.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of weather elements that can kill and injure us, so it is wise to know about the weather dangers in your area, and be prepared for them.

-Brian-

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Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather