文摘
A database of fatalities for the period 1977-2007 was constructed to assess the threat to life in the conterminous United States from non-tornadic convective high-wind events. Severe thunderstorm and tornado warning data for the period 1986-2007 were acquired to examine the relationship between warnings, events, and fatalities. Results reveal that most non-tornadic convective high wind fatalities occur in the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic States, with another area of relatively high fatalities across the South and Southeast. Most fatalities occurred during the afternoon in June and July and occurred in aircraft, vehicles, boats, or while outdoors. Tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were found to be highly correlated with their respective events. Comparison of tornado and non-tornadic convective wind fatalities to warnings revealed that a significantly greater percentage of tornado fatalities occurred during warnings as compared to non-tornadic convective wind fatalities. The results of this study suggest that a renewed focus on warnings for non-tornadic convective wind is needed.