Preliminary data from the National Weather Service in Wichita shows 124 tornadoes ripped through Kansas in 2015, which is 83 more tornadoes than the year prior.



The number of tornadoes in 2015 tied for the fourth highest number of annual tornadoes since 1990, according to data from the NWS office in Wichita.



Meteorologist Eric Metzger said many things could have contributed to the spike in 2015, but a possible contributor comes from above-average amounts of moisture from a strong El Ni�o influencing climate systems to produce more tornadoes.



�Climate goes in cycles,� Metzger said when explaining the data, which shows a downward trend in tornadoes since 2008, despite a 2012 spike.



More moisture brings a higher probability of severe storms and tornadoes, Metzger said, and upper air is needed to produce tornadic activity.



Since Jan. 1, 2015, Kansas has accumulated 42.02 inches of rain � compared to the normal 32.61 inches � making for the sixth wettest year on record, according to Metzger.



�It�s been a rather wet year,� Metzger said. �But just because there�s a lot of moisture doesn�t necessarily mean you�re going to have a lot of tornadic activity.�



In the nation, Florida and �Tornado Alley� in the south-central United States have a �disproportionately high� frequency of tornadoes, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, formerly known as the National Climatic Data Center.



Compared to other states in �Tornado Alley,� Kansas� average number of tornadoes is among the highest, at 96 tornadoes per year. On average, Oklahoma has 62, Nebraska has 57, South Dakota has 36, and Texas has 155, according to NCEI.



Metzger said that while 124 tornadoes in 2015 looks like a lot, and is above normal, Kansas typically sees anywhere from 70 to 110 tornadoes every year.



The number of tornadoes was below average from 1994 to 2000, when the state saw between 42 and 72 twisters.



Most tornadoes occur in farm pastures and damage occasional power lines instead of damaging structures, Metzger said.



Meteorologists with the Wichita office haven�t made any predictions on how many tornadoes there will be in 2016. Typically, Metzger said, the Storm Prediction Center will issue its prediction around February or March.



Officials with the NWS office in Wichita said the 2015 preliminary data is subject to revision and official statistics will be released from NCEI in another six or eight months.