Low tornado count across the United States so far in 2013

The total number of tornadoes through early May is considerably behind the national annual average. It is also the lowest in nearly 60 years, since at least 1954. There have been 3 tornado fatalities in 2013; by the end of May 2011, 543 Americans had died. There has been a total of 20 confirmed tornadoes in the state of Alabama from January through April 2013. We are near normal for number of tornadoes. The tornado outbreaks of April 2011 are what stand out in most people's minds, but they were not the norm.