Almost 30 tornadoes reported in Minn. so far this year
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

UNDATED -- Our tornado season started with a bang this spring with the Hugo tornado, and it seems like there's been a tornado reported in some part of the state every week since then.

But how does this severe weather season stack-up, compared to other years?

Todd Krause is a tornado expert with the National Weather Service. He says we've had 25-30 tornadoes so far this year, with three Category 3 twisters.   He says the tornadoes in Hugo, Park Rapids, and Willmar have been the strongest.

Minnesota averages 26 tornadoes a year. It just SEEMS like we've had more this year because there were so few the past two summers -- last year there were only 18 reported in the whole state.

The most tornadoes we've ever had in one-year was 74 back in 2001. The most we've had in one month is 38, in June of 2001. And the most we've had on one day was 27 on June 16th, 1992.

We average nine in the month of June, seven in July, and three in August.

Resources
History of Minnesota tornadoes website
Pictures of the Willmar Tornado

AUDIO:  The National Weather Service's Todd Krause talks with WJON.com's Jim Maurice.