Weather Underground published a news story on September 1 showing that August 2014 had the lowest number of tornadoes for any August since 1963.  This year only 27 tornadoes were confirmed across the US compared to an average of 81.  In 1963 only 26 tornadoes were reported.  However, small and weak tornadoes were reported much less frequently in that time period, so the actual number of tornadoes in 1963 may have been under-counted compared to the close scrutiny severe weather receives today.  In part, this lack of tornadoes was attributed to no tropical storms (which often generate small tornadoes on their outer spiral arms) and the cool high pressure that dominated much of the summer months across the eastern half of the country.  You can read the story by clicking here.