Blown away: Every state reports wind damage for 2nd month in a row
Overall, there were just under 2,000 total severe weather reports (tornadoes, wind, hail, and heavy rain/flooding) in August -- 78% of an average August that typically sees a little more than 2,500 reports.
August experienced over 1,200 flash flood reports across U.S.
There were more flash flooding reports in August than January through June combined in the U.S., with four major flooding events in particular.
NEW YORK – August is in the books, and it'll be remembered in 2022 for a plethora of damaging wind events and over 1,000 reports of flash flooding while coming out on the light side for tornado and large hail reports.
Overall, there were just under 2,000 total severe weather reports (tornadoes, wind, hail, and heavy rain/flooding) in August -- 78% of an average August that typically sees just over 2,500 reports.
Only six days in the month saw above average severe weather activity -- and five of those dates came by Aug. 10. Yet the busiest day was Aug. 29, when a widespread wind event made up 94% of the nation's 261 severe weather reports.
August takes a general break from tornadoes
August is generally not seen as a big month for tornadoes outside of those produced by land-falling tropical systems, according to FOX Weather's senior data specialist Shane Brown.
But August went the entire month without any named tropical activity in the Atlantic.
"With a lack of those this August, the tornado tally reflects the deficit by producing just 35 reports for the entire month," Brown said. "That's only about 40% of the typical activity we would expect to see in August."
Tornado reports were made in 16 states, with North Dakota and Minnesota tying for top spots at five a piece. Nevada made a rare appearance on the tally list this month with just their 18th August tornado since 1950 -- an EF-0 near the town of Spring Creek.
The strongest tornadoes in August were a pair of EF-2 tornadoes -- one in Dallas Pike, West Virginia and the other in Ruso, North Dakota; both causing minor damage.
Throughout the year, we've collected 1,055 reports of tornadoes. Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama remain the top three states with 114, 108, and 80 reports, respectively.
Those 1,055 reports are below the long-term average of 1,116.
Chicago was not the only Windy City in August
No matter what state you live in, a damaging wind gust found its way there – including Illinois' Chicago.
"At least one report of wind damage was made in every state this August making it the second month in a row to accomplish that feat," Brown said.
Almost 1,700 reports were made this past month, which is above the long-term monthly average of 1,380.
Michigan saw the lion's share of reports with 107 when storms late in the month caused widespread wind damage and knocked out power to more than 600,000.
Time-lapse of storm whipping Chicago
Take a look at the calm before the storm in a Chicago neighborhood. The skyline disappears at the height of the storm.
Virginia was a close second with 103 reports, while 13 states saw at least 50 reports of wind damage: New York, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Texas, and Arizona.
The top wind report for the month was an 87-mph gust recorded by the La Junta Municipal Airport weather station near Cheraw, Colorado on Aug. 6.
"We now sit at close to 14,000 damaging wind reports this year, which crushes the long-term average just shy of 10,000," Brown said. "Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio are the top three states with 855, 709, and 561 reports, respectively."
Hail reports remain below average
August was yet another quiet month for hail, garnering just 254 reports of large hail (1 inch or larger), which is less than half of the long-term average of 550.
"Minnesota saw the lion's share of hail reports this past month with 26," Brown said, adding Minnesota was one of 36 states to see hail in August.
Eastern Oregon hail damage photos
Wind driven, golf-ball-sized hail struck the town of Wallowa, Oregon, Thursday leaving a trail of damage.
WIND-DRIVEN, GOLF BALL-SIZE HAIL LEAVES TRAIL OF DAMAGE IN EASTERN OREGON TOWN
The largest stone this month was a baseball-sized, 3-inch stone that was spotted by a TV meteorologist in West Des Moines, Iowa.
"Through the year, we've collected just over 4,000 reports of hail across the U.S.," Brown said. "This is over 1,000 reports shy of the long-term average."
Texas, Nebraska, and Minnesota are the top three hail kings with 414, 391, and 377 reports, respectively.
Devastating month again for flash flooding
While it was a slow start to the year for flash flooding, the summer has caught up with multiple devastating events, including six rainfall events deemed 1-in-1,000-year probabilities. Four of those came in August with massive flooding in Dallas-Fort Worth, Death Valley, California; southeastern Illinois and the Jackson, Mississippi area.
"Every single day of the month was outlooked for the potential for flash flooding," Brown said.
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As a whole, the nation saw more than 1,200 reports of flash flooding in August, making it the most prolific month all year, besting July's reports by about 300.
"That is more reports than January through June combined (888)," Brown said.
With a strong monsoon season underway, the bulk of reports came out of Arizona with 274. Arizona saw reports of flash flooding on all but six days in August.
Mississippi followed behind with 135 reports of its own as torrential rain fell short order on Aug. 24 throughout Jackson, Meridian and Hattiesburg.
Nursing home residents evacuated as floodwaters rise in Brandon, MS
Residents at Village Nursing Home had to be evacuated as floodwaters rose in Brandon, Mississippi on Wednesday.
DOZENS RESCUED FROM MISSISSIPPI NURSING HOME AS TORRENTIAL RAIN CAUSES MAJOR FLOODING
That date would notch the single highest flash flood report total of the entire year in the U.S. with 160.
On the year, the nation has tallied 3,240 reports of flash flooding, which is above the long-term average of nearly 3,000.
Arizona leads the U.S. with 522 reports this year. Kentucky and West Virginia make up the rest of the top three with 210 and 194 reports, respectively.