Rare January Tornadoes

Two separate tornadoes touched down in Ohio and Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Both tornadoes were rated EF-1 with maximum winds from 95-100 mph. Tornadoes are rare in both states during the month of January.

Picture of a tornado around 10:30am this morning in Cortland, OH courtesy of the Bazetta Township Road Department. pic.twitter.com/69As1Rdu8u

— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) January 8, 2019

According the records dating back to 1950, this is only the seventh January tornado to hit Ohio. The state’s last January tornado was on January 29, 2008 near Lewisburg in Preble county. Pennsylvania has only had six January tornadoes since 1950.

These tornadoes come just days after the 2018 nationwide report on tornadoes. According to the Storm Prediction Center, 2018 had the least amount of tornado deaths on record with only 10. That’s far below the national average of 69. Last year also saw no EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes for the first time since 1950.

Could 2019 bring a more active tornado season? Only time will tell.