Severe weather warnings down this summer

ABERDEEN, S.D.(KXLG)- You are right if you have noticed a lack of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes this summer. The National Weather Service’s Aberdeen office has issued fewer than one-third as many warnings so far in 2023 as it did in 2022.

Kelly Serr (“Sare,” rhymes with “bare”), Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Aberdeen, told KXLG that both this year and last year are unusual in terms of severe weather.

Only twice in the last three decades were fewer severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings issued than this year, in 1988 and 1989. Last year finished with 293 warnings, second most behind the 307 issued in 2016.

Serr said we’ve been fortunate so far this summer.

The lack of severe weather is good news for farmers and property owners.

After last year’s near-record number of storm warnings, Serr said she is enjoying this summer’s slower pace.