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Breaking Weather
WEATHER RELATED FATALITIES HISTORICALLY LOWER IN 2009
Date: Thu, Jul 2nd, 2009 10:00:01 am
Statisctics for annual weather related fatalities. (NOAA)
Weather related fatalities are showing a significantly lower trend in 2009 compared to years past. A year that has seen fewer tornadoes has resulted in just 21 deaths compared to the average of 54 deaths annually.
Fatalities contributed to lightning are also much lower this year in relation to the annual average. While the 30 year average is 62 deaths there have only been 15 in the U.S. thus far in 2009.
Lightning fatalities by state in 2009 (weather.com)
While it is often said that flooding causes more deaths on average per year than any other weather related phenomenon, the 10 year average from the chart above paints an interesting picture. It appears that heat is the number one killer when it comes to weather. That is something that should be noted as we head into the heart of summer.
