LEXINGTON, Ky. — Last year, weather dominated much of the news as Kentucky moved from a warm early spring to a devastating Easter freeze, to a drought of historic proportion.<br>
Last week, Mother Nature grabbed the headlines again as tornadoes moved across the South, causing incredible damage and death. More than 50 people were killed in four states, with Tennessee being the hardest hit, reporting 31 fatalities on Feb. 5-6.<br>
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen toured the affected counties in the western portion of the state and reflected on a similar 2006 rash of tornadoes.<br>
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with everyone who has been affected, particularly those who lost loved ones and suffered injuries,” said Bredesen. “We learned in the aftermath of the storms of 2006 and the tornado that struck downtown Nashville when I was mayor that Tennesseans are strong and resilient, and they truly know what it means to help a neighbor in need.
“As we call on the spirit of community that has always pulled Tennessee through these tragedies, we will focus our efforts on helping the people impacted rebuild and re-establish a sense of normalcy in their lives.”<br>
That effort got a boost from President Bush prior to his visit to the area last week. The federal government authorized a major disaster declaration for five Tennessee counties after Bredesen asked Bush to declare 21 counties federal disaster areas.
Declarations for additional Tennessee counties are expected as preliminary damage assessments for those counties are submitted.<br>
In a press briefing on Feb. 6, Tony Fratto, deputy press secretary for the Bush administration, said, “The President spoke with the governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. He told them that we support them in this time of tragedy. Federal officials continue to work with state and local emergency responders throughout the region.”<br>
Kentucky reported seven deaths as at least two dozen tornadoes were confirmed across western and central parts of the state. At last count, 26 tornadoes had been confirmed in the state, tying the old record set in April 1974.<br>
Gov. Steve Beshear declared a State of Emergency in the Commonwealth due to the impact of the storms.<br>
“This is a horrible situation,” he said. “The widespread storm damage has left death and devastation in its path. I am putting boots on the ground in these areas to view the destruction and determine how public emergency service can best assist those facing loss of family and property.”<br>
Last month, tornadoes ripped through parts of Missouri, with approximately 33 reported twisters spawning from a large storm system that moved out of the Rockies and collided with an unusually warm weather system over the Ozarks.<br>
Repeat of last year?<br>

The weather pattern across Kentucky has been sporadic, at best, this year. The drought conditions still prevalent as late as October gave way to above-average rainfall, creating flash flood conditions in many areas, with radical swings in temperatures from freezing Arctic blasts to spring-like 60s that spawned last week’s deadly storms.<br>
But how unusual is this, and can a repeat of last year be on the horizon?<br>
Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky agricultural meteorologist, said strong storms can strike any time of the year.<br>
“Certainly we’ve had tornadoes and thunderstorms during the winter in the past; we can have them in all months. But, what made last week’s outbreak unusual was the magnitude of the storms,” he said.<br>
Priddy credits the current weather pattern to La Nina, a weather phenomenon which is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, with cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific ocean that impact global weather patterns. La Nina conditions recur every few years and can persist for as long as two years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<br>
“La Nina shifts the jet stream, where weather patterns follow and typically produces above-normal temperatures and rainfall in this area, which is exactly what we’ve had,” said Priddy.<br>
“We received adequate rainfall to replenish soil moisture, with the exception of a small portion of southeast Kentucky, but now we are so wet, I don’t know if we want too much more.<br>
“In fact, it wouldn’t hurt to have a dry period. It would be a good time for it, with little going on agriculturally.”<br>
The long-term forecast through April calls for above-normal temperatures and precipitation to continue, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. Priddy also said the key thing now is for the current La Nina pattern to change by May or June but if that doesn’t happen, the area could be in store for more dry weather.<br>
“We can predict the weather, but we’re not always right,” he said.