As of last week, 98 deaths have been confirmed – more than double the average of 44 tornado deaths over the period from January 1^st to May 11^th. Further, the average season total of 60 deaths has been exceeded. If the pace continues, we stand to exceed 1998 when 130 people died in tornadoes, the eighth deadliest year since 1950. The record number of tornado deaths came in 1953 when 519 people died. 

Unofficially, over 800 tornadoes have been reported thus far this year although that most likely reflects duplicate sightings and will be revised as more analysis is done. Of those, 27 tornadoes have claimed lives thus far this year which bests the 23 seen in 2006 and the 18 seen in 2006.