Austin-American Statesman > Weather Watch > Archives > 2008 > February > 29
Friday, February 29, 2008
Texas tops nation in dangerous weather, study says
Texas is No. 1 in the nation in many types of severe weather, according to a report released today as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, which ends tomorrow.
According to the report from the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, Texas generally leads the nation in the number of tornadoes each year. Since 1950, the state has averaged 139 tornadoes per year — a total of 7,319 since 1953. Texas also sees the most fatalities, injuries and damage associated with tornadoes — including 504 deaths since 1953 — the report says.
The state usually leads the nation in flash flood deaths per year, the report says. Texas had 45 flood-related deaths in 2007.
Texas is second in the nation in lightning fatalities, behind Florida, according to the report.
Texas is most often struck by thunderstorms, hail storms, straight line winds and tornadoes during the spring and early summer, the report says.
