The number of tornadoes in Minnesota so far this year has topped any other year.

The Climate Crisis is shifting the dynamics of tornadoes and hurricanes in North America.

I'll do something tomorrow evening.

Tornado Alley moved to Minnesota in 2010. (click title to entry - thank you)
Maybe we should update the state slogan to say; "Welcome to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and 100 tornadoes."
We all know it's been an insanely busy severe weather year in Minnesota, but I about leaped out of my weather lab chair when I counted up the preliminary number of SPC tornado reports by state for 2010.
Minnesota leads the nation in the number of tornado touchdowns this year...by FAR.
Preliminary numbers show Minnesota has 122 tornado reports so far in 2010. The #2 state isn't even close. Texas has reported 87 tornadoes so far in 2010.
That's right folks; the frozen tundra of Minnesota has had 35 more tornado reports this year than Tornado Alley Texas.
Here are the top 5 "tornado states" for 2010.


(Keep in mind these are preliminary numbers through August 15th)
1) Minnesota 122 tornado reports


2) Texas 87 tornado reports


3) Kansas 80 tornado reports


4) Oklahoma 70 tornado reports


5) Colorado 62 tornado reports
Wisconsin comes in 6th with 59 tornado reports so far this year.
The numbers are stunning and remarkable for many reasons.

-This would be the first year in recorded history that Minnesota leads the nation in tornado touchdowns. (I'm still working on confirming this.)
-Since 2000 Texas has lead the nation in tornadoes 7 years. Kansas has lead twice, and Illinois once. Here are the numbers.
2009 Texas 125 tornadoes


2008 Kansas 185 tornadoes


2007 Texas 198 tornadoes


2006 Illinois 123 tornadoes


2005 Kansas 136 tornadoes


2004 Texas 178 tornadoes


2003 Texas 155 tornadoes


2002 Texas 172 tornadoes


2001 Texas 137 tornadoes


2000 Texas 146 tornadoes
-Texas would need to record roughly another 36 tornadoes to surpass Minnesota this year. This is certainly possible, but it seems just as likely Minnesota may hold onto the number one spot at this late point in the season.
-This year may possibly break the all time state record for confirmed tornadoes in Minnesota, which is 74 set in 2001....


Storms black out 82K Michigan homes, businesses  (click here)

Associated Press
August 19, 2010 10:54 PM ET

DETROIT (AP) - Thunderstorms bringing winds gusting to 75 miles per hour have pushed through parts of southeastern Michigan, knocking down trees and power lines, damaging roofs and blacking out about 82,000 utility customers.
DTE Energy Co. spokesman Scott Simons says about 80,000 of the homes and businesses it serves lost power. Many are in Macomb County northeast of Detroit. CMS Energy Corp. says about 1,700 of its customers lost power.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings Thursday night, but no funnel clouds were confirmed and much of the damage appeared to be from straight line winds.
Weather service meteorologist Rich Pollman in Oakland County's White Lake Township tells the Detroit Free Press that spotters reported winds of up to 75 mph.

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Michigan Tornado 2010
 
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-483830?hpt=C2\
 
CNN producer note


Tirendi was huddled with his family in Macomb, Michigan, on Thursday evening when a tornado came through town. He shot this video of the storm rolling in and items being tossed and smashed in the backyard. 'I caught the start of the rain and wind followed by the high speed wind ripping the gazebo off of the patio to which it was bolted down with 8 large bolts into the wood decking. It blew it off after shredding the fabric roof. I have never seen anything like that it my life,' he said. Tirendi walked away from windows to the interior of the house for safety as the tornado rolled through. Another iReporter captured photos of aftermath from the same storm.

- zdan, CNN iReport producer

iReport — 3 minute video of lightning, wind, rain, hail, and destruction from one of the two tornados that touched down in Macomb Township on 08-19-10 @ 19:30.

It looks like the tornado formed over us so I never got a shot of the funnel.

Senator Markey, Chairman of the Subcommitte on Energy and the Environment is very astute in making the government hold BP responsible for the damage to the lands and waters of the USA.

Representative Markey brought the cameras to the public, which included the scientific community.  It was the smartest thing he could have done. 

Representative Markey is a very smart man and we are lucky to have him.  He is taking information at hearings and making it matter.  He stated the work at the FDA was incomplete as they were testing the substances in the Gulf Coast Seafood was based upon the standards of a 176 pound male.  He stated to the FDA representative at the hearing that it was not acceptable to allow the most vulnerable, women and children, to be exposed to possible dangers that a 176 pound male might not.

Rep. Markey is an interesting man.  He uses the icon "BP" in several different methods to help people understand how disappointed the USA is in the performance of their payments to the citizens involved in this tragedy.

He stated BP does not mean "Be Prepared," or "Bills Paid." 

The facts are there is significant damage to the USA and its seafood industry.  To the extent is still unknown.  For the USA consumer to completely state, "We trust the seafood on our menu." is premature and that is a fact. 

There are some areas of the fisheries that simply need to be closed and there are other areas that need to be marked as opened and monitored on a daily basis.  Water moves and we know now the oil at the bottom of the Gulf is moving through a report by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

What is paramount as obvious to me is getting the oil of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  I can't help but wonder if the water purifying machine developed by Kevin Kostner's Company won't help or be adapted to help.  The water in question is dually contaminated with oil/methane and dispersants.  Can the water purification process by Mr. Kostner's machine be adapted to separate the oil that is adhered to dispersants?  And can there be a 'suction system' that would deliver the 'contaminated deep water' to surface areas where these machines can harvest the contaminated waters and purify it?

I appreciate the work of the Subcommittee and I deeply appreciate the interest and compassion shown Americans by Rep. Markey.
BP oil leak victims face strings on $20bn spill fund  (click title to entry - thank you)
Victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will waive their right to sue BP staff and the energy major if they take money from the official $20bn (£13bn) compensation fund.
 
...However, final settlements to be decided later on in the year are likely to include clauses that prohibit recipients of compensation from launching further lawsuits....
 
The only criticism I have regarding this issue is that claimants should be told ahead of time as to what their settlement will be in order to decide whether they want to accept that or sue independantly. 

There is also the issue that fishermen adapted their boats to deploy skimmers and boom and they were paid for that employment.  That was a legitimate action by BP to compensate the fishermen with purposeful employment and monies.  If BP hadn't felt the need to provide that opportunity the dangers to the inland waters might be greater.  I believe while BP does want to exit the problem of balancing the cost of this disaster to their income and company viability, they haven't been completely negligent 'after the fact.'  That has to count for something no matter how aggrieved that value might be.  People cannot 'take advantage' of this disaster to compensate for 'pain and suffering.'  It has to be realized that while people lost income and that is important there is also 'emotional damage' to these people as well that need to be considered.
 
The payroll to this dispersement of monies is being paid by the Trust Fund and therefore the claimants should not feel as though they are victims to a process more powerful than they are. 
 
If the FDA is measuring dangerous elements and compounds and mixtures in the American diet by the effect on a 176 male, then that needs to be discarded as competent and 'models' adapted that truly reflect effects on men, women and children. 
 
The response by the scientific community in regard to this disaster has been remarkable.  There can be nothing said that diminishes their commitment to protect the waters of this country and the people that live around and with those waters.  I am impressed at the dedication of this community in its response to this disaster.  It has been remarkable.