By Roger Marsh, National ufo Examiner

The National UFO ALERT Rating System has been updated with Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan and New York moving to a UFO Alert 3 as the highest reporting states during the month of December 2011, filed with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).

Quiet Alabama had three UFO reports in November as compared to 101 reports in December 2012. Alabama is typically a low reporting state.

Those states in a UFO Alert 4 category with 13 or more reports include: North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

All other states move to a UFO Alert 5 category with lower numbers of UFO activity. The Watch States - with 10 or more cases - are Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Ohio and Virginia.

MUFON released December statistics January 1, where the total number of reported UFO sightings is listed by state. The UFO Examiner uses these statistics to rate states. The entire country was moved back to the lowest alert level - UFO Alert 5.

Alabama takes the lead with 101 cases (up from 3 reports in November); California, 63 cases; Pennsylvania, 40 cases; Florida, 39 cases; Michigan, 26 cases; and New York, 22 cases.

Those states with 13 or more reports, the next reporting tier level, are a UFO Alert 4 status: North Carolina, 21 cases; Georgia, 20 cases; Texas, 16 cases; Missouri, 15 cases; Maryland, 14 cases; Massachusetts, 14 cases; and South Carolina, 14 cases.

Our Watch States this month are - with 10 reports or more: Illinois, 12 cases; New Jersey, 12 cases; Colorado, 12 cases; Ohio, 10 cases; and Virginia, 10 cases.

The sphere remains the most-reported UFO shape with 154 December reports. Other shape reports include: circle, 89; star-like, 84; circle, triangle, 69; disc, 59; unknown, 59; other, 56; fireball, 56; oval, 46; flash, 32; cigar, 26; cylinder, 21; square/rectangular, 18; boomerang, 14; diamond, 10; teardrop, 10; egg, 9; bullet/missile, 8; cone, 6; Saturn-like, 6; blimp, 5; chevron, 4; and cross, 1.

The object's distance from the witness includes: Less than 100 feet, 63 cases; 101 to 500 feet, 84 cases; 501 feet to one mile, 125 cases; over one mile, 137 cases; unknown, 146; and no value stated, 14.

In addition, there were "20 landings, hovering, or takeoffs reported and 0 entities observed."

The most interesting UFO reports do not necessarily come from high reporting states - but those states with higher numbers do account for some of the most interesting evidence to study. While UFO sightings seem to pop up randomly around the country, this list is meant to offer a small insight into where Americans are filing reports.