There is no severe weather in the forecast for Alabama through the work week.

But today marks the beginning of May, which can be one of the busier months of the year for tornadoes, historically.

There have been 54 confirmed tornadoes so far this year, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, which is comparable with the past few years.

Last year was busier — Alabama had 68 tornadoes by this point in 2022. There were 43 by this point of the year in 2021, 62 in 2020, 53 in 2019 and 32 in 2018, according to weather service data:

So far in 2023, January has been the busiest month by far, with 29 confirmed tornadoes.

Next is March with 19. April ended with six tornadoes (one still needs to be added to the chart below). And there were none in February.

May ranks as the fourth-busiest month for tornadoes in Alabama.

There have been 248 confirmed tornadoes in May from 1950 until 2022, according to the weather service.

There have been no EF-5 tornadoes in Alabama in the month of May. However there have been five EF-4s:

* May 1, 1953: Yantley (Choctaw County)

* May 1, 1953: Millerville/Lineville (Clay County)

* May 19, 1973: Fort Payne (DeKalb County)

* May 27, 1973: Greensboro/Montevallo (Hale, Bibb, Perry, Shelby, Talladega, Clay and Cleburne counties)

* May 18, 1995: Athens (Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties)

The most active month for tornadoes in Alabama is, of course, the month of April, influenced in large part by the April 15 and 27, 2011, tornado outbreaks (the 12th anniversary of the April 27th outbreak was just last week).

According to weather service data there have been 575 confirmed tornadoes in Alabama in the month of April from 1950 until 2022.

What should Alabama expect going forward?

Historically, tornado activity in Alabama dramatically drops off in June, when fronts have a hard time making it through the state, leading to sometimes stagnant weather patterns and no clashes of warm and cold air that can help generate tornadoes.

June has had 82 confirmed tornadoes from 1950 until 2022, according to the weather service.

The lower activity continues into July (72 tornadoes) and August (85 tornadoes), also typically the quietest months for tornadoes.

The exception to that is if a tropical system affects the state.

The weather this week in Alabama will be mostly pleasant — and tornado-free.

The next chances for rain will arrive in time for the weekend, but so far no severe weather is expected, according to the weather service and the Storm Prediction Center.