NOAA: Predicts 2006 to Be a Record Tornado Season

NOAA is reporting:

"The first large tornado outbreak of the year occurred March 12 causing a total of 142 tornado reports and eight deaths. An outbreak on March 30 produced 27 tornadoes with four injuries. "

What is expected this year are a record number of tornadoes this is being attributed to our unusual warm winter.

NOAA further reports:

"Once a spring pattern developed in early March bringing weather systems eastward into the central United States, it combined with warm, moist air moving north from the Gulf, and created all the right ingredients for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes," McCarthy explained.

Typically, the busiest part of the tornado season is April through June. More tornado warnings are expected this week as the tornado season takes off in high gear.