September 2009 recorded the lowest number of tornado reports in many years.

According to the Storm Prediction Center , there were only 10 reports of tornadoes during the month of September.

While these are only reports, the confirmed number of tornadoes will likely be slightly lower or slightly higher than the 10 reported tornadoes, due to possible multiple reports of a single tornado or due to confirmed unreported tornado tracks.

Just one year ago in September of 2008, 110 tornadoes were reported with 111 tornadoes confirmed.

Since 1998, the month of September has averaged around 95 tornadoes, making it the 5th most active month for tornadoes.

(Over the past 3 years, September has averaged around 82 tornadoes)

According to the National Climatic Data Center's tornado data, September 2009 received the lowest number of tornado reports since the early 1950's!!!

So why the major decrease in tornado reports and or actual tornadoes in September 2009??

This can be tied to the slow 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season and or the lack of landfalling tropical systems.

Most September tornadoes are a result of landfalling tropical systems in the United States and so far this year, only one tropical system (Tropical Storm Claudette) has made landfall and that was in the month of August.

Out of the  111 confirmed tornadoes during September 2008, over 75 tornadoes or more than half- were as a result of the landfalling Hurricane Gustav  on the Louisiana Coast and the landfalling Hurricane Ike on the Texas Gulf Coast.

(Preliminary Tornado Reports in September 2008)

(In September 2004, a Hurricane Ivan spawned tornado was captured by a tower cam in South Panama City, Florida)