According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, a tornado and severe weather drought continued into June from May across the country. Overall, the amount of severe weather in the United States has been decreasing over time even though population and development has expanded.
In June of this year, the National Weather Service issued only 6 Tornado Watches, breaking the record low of 8 issued last year. Combined with May, the two month total was 16 which is 12 fewer than the May/June total of 28 issued in 2018.
While the National Weather Service continues to certify severe weather reports, and the number could rise as those reports are finalized, it appears June 2020 had 50 tornadoes, which is the fewest tornadoes in the country since June of 1952. In 1952, 34 tornadoes were reported; every year since then has seen 63 or more. Even if additional tornadoes were logged as the National Weather Service closes-out June records, it is very unlikely to surpass 62 tornadoes.
In addition to having few tornadoes, the tornadoes that formed weren’t particularly strong. In June 2020, there was only one confirmed EF 2+ tornado for the month; this is the fewest EF 2+ tornadoes in June in recorded history since records of the sort were kept in 1950. The previous fewest EF 2+ tornadoes was 3 in 2006.
Beyond tornadoes, the country saw fewer preliminary severe weather reports. The average is 4,940 reports; June 2020 saw only 4,044.
