About Past Weather Data...
Where can I find past tornado and severe storm reports?
The official archive for past weather data is the National Climatic Data Center. The searchable severe weather database is online. Generally storm reports are not official until about 90 days after an event. In other words, their data will include 1950 to about three months prior to today.
Tornado statistics can also be found at the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center:
- Current products (6/1/99 to present)
- Historical data (Product and Report Archives)
- Links to websites on a limited number of tornado events
The National Weather Service Office in Norman, Oklahoma has information for the state of Oklahoma. They have information on specific weather events as well. If you live outside Oklahoma, visit your local National Weather Service Forecast Office's home page for statistics for your area.
We have analyzed tornado and severe storm reports to assess the risk from severe weather in NSSL's Severe Thunderstorm Climatology pages.
What is the weather usually like?
Local National Weather Service Forecast Offices nationwide keep information on the average weather conditions in your area. To locate this information click on the map location that interests you. Then look on the left side of the page for a section on "Climate." You will be able to find average weather conditions for that area.
Where can I find historical weather data?
The official archive of all weather data - not just severe storms and tornadoes - for the U.S. government is at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, NC. If you have questions about past weather or climate data (i.e. average highs and lows, specific weather events, etc.), please contact:
National Climatic Data Center
Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville NC
28801-5001
828-271-4800
FAX: 828-271-4876
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov
Email
Address for Climate / Weather Data (including where it can be found)
questions@ncdc.noaa.gov
NCDC's Searchable Storm Events Database
Local Climate Data:
Many National Weather Service offices keep local climate data on-line. Find
your local NWS office.
Need help?
Consulting:
Each state in our country has a State
Climatologist who can provide answers
to regional weather questions.
The American Meteorological Society keeps a list of Certified Consulting Meteorologists who could be called upon for legal matters. Tip: it seems the addresses and contact information are hidden in the listing by state. For example, if you search by specialty you will need to write down the names and states for those CCMs listed, then go back and navigate by state to find the contact information for each person.
Do you have something to report?
Your local National Weather Service Forecast Office needs to know! Be sure to contact them with your report in as timely a manner as possible. They, in turn, pass the reports along to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) for the publication called Storm Data (and the database behind that publication). NCDC keeps the official archive for the US.
