Hazardous weather
impacts
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U.S. fatalities
due to tornadoes have decreased from more than 110
per year from the 1950s through the 1970s to 58 per year
since the implementation of Doppler radar about 10 years ago at
more than 120 National Weather Service offices across the
country.
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On average, the
most weather-related fatalities over the past 30 years have been
attributed to floods, with an average of 107, followed by
lightning, 66, and tornadoes, 65.
Central-southeast Illinois severe weather statistics
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In 2005, nearly
76 percent of all severe weather events -- damaging winds,
tornadoes and large hail -- in central Illinois had advance
warning by the National Weather Service in Lincoln, with an
average lead time of 17 minutes.
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Since Doppler
radar has been installed at the National Weather Service in
Lincoln, nearly 83 percent of all severe weather events
have had advance warning, with an average lead time of 16.6
minutes. (Period from January 1996 to December 2005)
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Of the top 15
counties with the most tornadoes in the state of Illinois, nine
are in central Illinois: McLean, No. 1; Logan, No. 2; Macon, No.
3; Sangamon, No. 4; Tazewell, No. 6; Woodford, No. 7; Champaign,
No. 10; Mason, No. 11; and Coles, No. 14. (Data based on
tornadoes from 1950-2004, normalized to 1,000 square miles.)
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Nearly 2,000
volunteer weather spotters were trained in 26 central Illinois
counties last year. Nearly 600 were new trainees.
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 Economic effects of weather forecasts and warnings
-
33 percent of the
U.S. gross national product, or nearly $3 trillion, is affected
by weather and NOAA's National Weather Service forecasts.
-
The average U.S.
household pays only about $1.08 per month for NOAA's
weather services.
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Average annual
damage from tornadoes, hurricanes and floods in the U.S. is
$11.4 billion.
-
Economists have
estimated that improved El Nino forecasts have resulted in
annual savings of nearly $300 million for U.S. agriculture by
altering planting decisions.
-
National Weather
Service implementation of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction
System will save lives and an estimated $240 million per year in
flood losses and will contribute an additional $520 million per
year in economic benefits to water resource users.
The National Weather Service mission:
The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and
climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its
territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of
life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. The
National Weather Service is the sole United States official
voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather
situations.
Visit
www.weather.gov/Lincoln for the latest weather and river
forecasts, warnings, current conditions, radar and satellite
imagery, and climate information.
[National Weather Service-Lincoln
news release]
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