Weather trends that set records are sometimes cited to advance
political causes such as anti-climate change initiatives. The
word “record” is relative because recorded weather data only go
back so far. Thus, the 113-degree day in August was a record
high for Oklahoma Citybut not necessarily the hottest it’s ever
been here and not necessarily an indication that people are
making things hotter. Here’s a “record” you may not be aware of:
No tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma from June 1 through the
end of September. That’s happened only once before, in 2003. But
then the records date only to 1950. Before that, who knows? Amid
all the bad news about the weather this year, we can at least be
thankful that the tail end of the spring tornado season wasn’t
all that newsworthy.