Hmm: "The massive hot dome across the nation for much of the spring and summer had a big impact on the lack of severe weather and tornadoes across the country"

Happy New Year! Cold Start to 2013 | StarTribune.com

The massive hot dome across the nation for much of the spring and summer had a big impact on the lack of severe weather and tornadoes across the country. According to the Storm Prediction Center, there was a record low in the number of tornado and severe weather watches issued for 2012. Since moving into their Norman, OK office in 1997, there has never been as few watches as this year's 697. 2012 will also finish with nearly 400 less tornado reports than the 7 year average. According to NOAA's NCDC, 2012 will finish nearly 140 less than the 1991-2010 average.