Reviewing the severe weather and tornadoes during 2024

ST. LOUIS - During 2024, we've seen a great deal of severe weather across the country and in the St. Louis region, with some impressive tornadoes.

In the St. Louis region alone, there have been more than 40 confirmed tornadoes. Not far away over the weekend, there was a weak tornado near the Lake of the Ozarks and several tornado warnings south of the metro early Monday.

There have been a lot of confirmed tornadoes across the country during 2024. Most of them were east of the Rocky Mountains, with a significant concentration in the deep south but also in the bistate area.

The United States has experienced 1,321 tornadoes in 2024, nearly 100 above the average of 1225. Tragically, with the increase in tornadoes comes an increase in fatalities, rising up to 83 for the year.

Going back to the turn of the century, there have been a few notable winter severe weather events in the St. Louis region. The winter of 2005-2006, the winter of 2010-2011, and the winter of 2021-2022 all saw winter tornado activity. What do all three of those years have in common? They were La Nina Winters, which we are heading into now.

Colder ocean temperatures in the central Pacific influence the jet stream, making for a more favorable alignment for severe weather. A fact we saw all too well in 2010, the New Year's Eve tornado was part of a string of violent storms that tracked up I-44 into the metro area around midday New Year's Eve, producing significant damage, injuries and even one fatality.

As we start to shift into "Holiday Mode," it is worth reminding ourselves to stay severe weather aware to ensure we don't overlook the potential for severe weather due to the seasonal shift.