2010 On Track To Record Fewer Tornado Deaths

Forecasters say the nation is on track to record less than half the average number of deaths from tornadoes this year.

The experts attribute the drop in deaths to improved warning

systems and fewer strong tornadoes this year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Storm

Prediction Center says 29 people died in tornadoes through the end

of June — about half the average number in the past 30 years.

The Wichita Eagle reports that no tornado deaths have been

recorded in Kansas this year.

Mike Smith, president of WeatherData Inc., of Wichita, says

better warning systems led to the decline.

But Greg Carbin, a meteorologist for the Storm Prediction

Center, says another factor is that fewer tornadoes have occurred

this year, and they have been less powerful than normal.