Another Winter Tornado (UPDATE)

While 2008 appears to have had many more tornadoes than in past years, the 2008 tally is probably inflated, since it relies on initial reports that may represent duplicates for an individual storm.

Photo: NOAA Storm Prediction Center

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A massive storm moving out of the Southwest sparked tornadoes in Florida, according to AccuWeather.com.

"The complex storm consisting of two areas of low pressure has resulted in widespread warnings, watches and advisories from the Arklatex to the interior Northeast and across the Deep South," an AccuWeather statement reads.

While AccuWeather.com reported the tornadoes were "deadly," the Associated Press did not report any deaths from a single tornado, which reportedly touched down in North Central Florida, "bringing down power lines."

Update: AccuWeather.com retracted its statement that the the tornadoes had caused death. "That (fact) was picked up from a newswire but has been retracted," spokesman Justin Roberti wrote in an e-mail. "Local police have confirmed no deaths."

While the U.S. is moving into its typical tornado season, the country has witnessed several rounds of unusual strong winter tornadoes this year, and the damage and death caused has been significant. While tallies still may over-estimate the number of tornadoes due to double-reporting of the same storm, it appears that 2008 is off to an unusually active tornado season.

Some studies have predicted increased tornado and thunderstorm activity due to global warming, as the atmosphere holds and unleashes more energy, and changes in air currents produce conditions conducive to tornado formation.

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