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Tornadoes on record pace this year

Posted at 11:35 AM, Mar 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-28 11:35:55-04

We are less than three months into the year, and 2017 has already seen more tornadoes than every January, February and March for the past three years.

The Storm Prediction Center counts nearly 400 tornadoes so far in 2017, and that number is outpacing every year for the last 10 years except 2008.

The tornado outbreaks haven't been focused on one specific part of the country either. Tornadoes have occurred in 25 states and in Puerto Rico this year.

Unfortunately, these higher than average numbers have also equated to an unusually high death toll from severe weather this year. Twenty-four people have already died from severe storms — more than in all of last year.

RELATED: Storm Shield app provides life-saving weather alerts to keep you and your family safe

The severe weather and tornado threats don't appear to be slowing down, either. Today's likely to be the sixth day in a row of severe weather, and there are more threats for severe storms well into the weekend.

If this trend continues through the rest of the spring and into the summer, then 2017 could very well be a record-breaking year for tornado activity.

Follow Storm Shield Meteorologist Jason Meyersvia the Storm Shield appon Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Download the Storm Shield Weather Radio App for your iPhone or Android device and get severe weather alerts wherever you are. Named by Time.com one of the best weather apps for your iPhone.