More Winter Tornadoes Than Last 3 Years, Combined

For the third time this winter, destructive tornadoes touched down in the United States at a time of year when they are unusual, if not unheard of.

This time, Alabama and Florida towns saw homes leveled, cars strewn about and dozens of people injured. According to the Associated Press, there have been no fatalities reported.

The number of tornadoes recorded this year to date is far more than in previous years, according to a Chicago Tribune tally. Here's what the data from the Storm Prediction Center shows:

U.S. Tornadoes, in January and February
2005 - 43
2006 - 59
2007 - 73
2008 - 327*
2005-2007 avg - 58

Deaths by tornado, per year
2005 - 38
2006 - 67
2007 - 81
2008 - 65*
2005-2007 avg - 62

*Through Feb. 17

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