The year 2011 got off to a strange start following a rare winter tornado on New Year's Eve. It was one of a number of severe weather events during the cold weather months, followed by the F-4 tornado that hit north St. Louis County and Lambert Airport in April, and plenty of flooding.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kramper says it was a very unusual first five months.
"Historically speaking, yes, the St. Louis area does get severe weather outbreaks in winter," said Kramper. "They're not unheard of. But to get two pretty big events in the same winter season, that's something that doesn't happen all the time. And then stick a snowstorm in between? That even makes it more interesting."
Kramper says the summer featured some extreme heat, but the fall was thankfully quiet.
