Average yearly cost of severe TS damage, U.S.: $10 BILLION
Number of TS worldwide/year: 16 million
Average number of TS in progress at any given time, worldwide: 2,000
Number of TS U.S./year: ~100,000
Most likely time of year: SPRING/SUMMER
Most likely time of day, Gulf Coast,
Southeastern and Western States: Afternoon
Most likely time of day, Plains States: Late afternoon/Night
State with most days with thunderstorms: Florida
Average TS cell diameter: 15 miles
Average duration: 30 MINUTES
Average TS max wind speed: 34-40 mph
Average TS tops: 40,000 feet
Max recorded TS top: 75,000 feet
Associated aviation dangers: LIGHTNING, TURBULENCE, WIND SHEAR, DOWNBURSTS, ICING, HAIL, ENGINE WATER INGESTION, REDUCED VISIBILITY
Severe storm qualifications: hail 1”+ diameter, winds 58 mph+ (50 kts), tornadic activity
Percentage of storms that classify as severe:…