Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Des Moines, IA

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1143 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 2013

...IOWA SET TO TIE STATEWIDE TORNADO CESSATION RECORD TODAY...

THE LAST TIME A TORNADO OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF IOWA WAS ON MAY
24TH 2012 IN FAYETTE COUNTY. AT THE END OF THE DAY TODAY...TUESDAY
MAY 14...IT WILL HAVE BEEN 355 DAYS SINCE THIS TORNADO. THIS WILL
TIE THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF DAYS BETWEEN TORNADO OCCURRENCES SET
BETWEEN THE DATES OF MAY 5 1955 AND APRIL 26 1956. HAVING NO
TORNADOES THROUGH THE END OF THE DAY TOMORROW...MAY 15...WOULD BREAK
THIS RECORD. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOES IS
RELATIVELY LOW THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...WITH THUNDERSTORMS
POSSIBLE TONIGHT OVER NORTHERN IOWA AND ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA THROUGH
THE END OF THE WEEK.

THIS STREAK IS RATHER IMPRESSIVE ON ITS OWN. HOWEVER...REPORTING
STANDARDS IN THE 1950S WERE NOT NEARLY AS ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE
AS THE PRESENT. THE ADVENT OF DOPPLER RADAR AND THE GROWTH OF STORM
CHASING AND SPOTTER NETWORKS...ALONG WITH THE NEARLY UBIQUITOUS USE
OF CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET...HAVE GREATLY FACILITATED THE
OBSERVING AND REPORTING OF TORNADOES. THEREFORE...THE LIKELIHOOD OF
HAVING A TORNADO OCCUR AND NOT BEING OBSERVED...OR EVEN OBSERVED BUT
NOT REPORTED...WAS MUCH GREATER IN THE 1950S THAN WHAT WOULD BE
EXPECTED TODAY. THIS MAKES THE CURRENT STREAK EVEN MORE REMARKABLE.

$$

COGIL/SKOW
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