Dry Weather Leads to Quiet Tornado Season in MN

ST. CLOUD -- It's been a very quiet year for tornadoes in Minnesota.  In fact, up to this point, we've had the fewest tornadoes in Minnesota in more than two decades.

Todd Krause is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service. He says so far there have been only 14 twisters in the state.

Krause says it can change dramatically from year to year.  For example, in 2010, Minnesota led the nation with 113 tornadoes.  That was the year of the major twister that hit Wadena.

Krause says the drought-like conditions this summer has led to fewer storms overall. With 14 tornadoes confirmed in the state it is the fewest since 1990.  In fact, he says the nation as a whole has had fewer severe storms because of the dry conditions.

Krause warns we could still get tornadoes this month and even in October.