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Facts + Statistics: Tornadoes and thunderstorms

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Convective storms

Convective storms result from warm, moist air rising from the earth, and depending on atmospheric conditions, may develop into tornadoes, hail, thunderstorms with lightning, or straight-line winds. Convective storms are the most common and damaging natural catastrophes in the United States, according to Triple-I’s May 2020 white paper, Severe convective storms: Evolving risks call for innovation to reduce costs, drive resilience.

Tornadoes

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm and comes into contact with the ground, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In an average year, about 1,000 tornadoes are reported nationwide, according to NOAA. Tornado intensity is measured by the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. The scale rates tornadoes on a scale of 0 through 5, based on the amount and type of wind damage. It incorporates 28 different damage indicators, based on damage to a wide variety of structures ranging from trees to shopping malls.

The Fujita Scale For Tornadoes

    Original F scale (1) Enhanced F scale (2)
Category Damage Wind speed (mph) 3-second gust (mph)
F-0 Light 40-72  65-85
F-1 Moderate 73-112 86-110
F-2 Considerable 113-157 111-135
F-3 Severe 158-207 136-165
F-4 Devastating 208-260 166-200
F-5 Incredible 261-318 Over 200

(1) Original scale: wind speeds represent fastest estimated speeds over one quarter of a mile.
(2) Enhanced scale: wind speeds represent maximum 3-second gusts.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

 

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Top 10 Costliest U.S. Catastrophes Involving Tornadoes (1)

($ millions)

        Estimated insured loss
Rank Date Event Location Dollars when
occurred		 In 2023 dollars (2)
1 Aug. 8-12, 2020 Includes Aug. 10 Midwest Derecho IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH,
SD, WI, PA, DC, MD, VA, WV		 $9,200 $10,879
2 Apr. 22-28, 2011 Late April 2011 Super Tornado Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS,
OH, OK, TN, TX, VA		 7,560 10,346
3 May 21-27, 2011 Joplin, MO Tornado AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN,
MO, NC, NE, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN,
TX, VA, WI		 7,000 9,535
4 May 2-11, 2003 SCS Outbreak AL, AR, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO,
MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN		 3,300 5,535
5 Mar. 1-3, 2023 SCS Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IN, KY, MS, OH, PA, TN, VA 4,900 4,997
6 Mar. 31-Apr. 1, 2023 Tornado Outbreak AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, IN, IO, KY, MI, NE,
OH, PA, TN, TX		 4,300 4,385
7 May 27-30, 2019 SCS Outbreak CO, TX, OK, KS, AR, MO, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, WV, WY, NJ, NY 3,650 4,387
8 Jun. 21-26, 2023 SCS Outbreak TX, CO, Southeast 4,250 4,287
9 Apr. 10-15, 2016 San Antonio Hailstorm TX, LA, OK, AR, MS, KS, MO 3,200 4,117
10 Apr. 6-12, 2001 St. Louis Hailstorm AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, OK, PA, TX 2,200 3,828

(1) Defined by Aon as severe convective storms including insured thunderstorm events and may include tornado, hail, damaging straight-line winds (derechos) and flash flood impacts from events. Includes events that occurred through 2023. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2024.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Source: Aon.

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Top 10 States, By Number Of Tornadoes, 2024 (1)

 

Rank State Number of tornadoes (2) Fatalities
1 Texas 169 9
2 Iowa 131 6
2 Nebraska 131 0
4 Illinois 126 0
5 Missouri 105 1
6 Florida 103 8
7 Louisiana 92 3
8 Oklahoma 91 8
9 Kansas 89 1
10 Ohio 82 3

(1) Numbers include preliminary estimates as of January 2025.
(2) Excludes Puerto Rico. Tornadoes that cross state lines are counted in every state in which they touch down.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.

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Tornadoes And Related Deaths By State, 2024 (1)

 

State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2) State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2)
Alabama 79 1 12 Montana 4 0 35
Alaska 0 0 (3) Nebraska 131 0 2
Arizona 6 0 32 Nevada 0 0 46
Arkansas 44 5 16 New Hampshire 2 0 38
California 6 0 32 New Jersey 1 0 39
Colorado 31 0 23 New Mexico 11 0 30
Connecticut 1 0 39 New York 32 1 21
Delaware 1 0 39 North Carolina 37 2 19
D.C. 0 0 (3) North Dakota 18 0 27
Florida 103 8 6 Ohio 82 3 10
Georgia 33 2 20 Oklahoma 91 8 8
Hawaii 0 0 (3) Oregon 3 0 36
Idaho 1 0 39 Pennsylvania 32 0 21
Illinois 126 0 4 Rhode Island 1 0 39
Indiana 61 1 13 South Carolina 48 0 15
Iowa 131 6 3 South Dakota 11 0 30
Kansas 89 1 9 Tennessee 23 1 24
Kentucky 57 1 14 Texas 169 9 1
Louisiana 92 3 7 Utah 3 0 36
Maine 0 0 46 Vermont 0 0 46
Maryland 16 0 28 Virginia 14 0 29
Massachusetts 1 0 39 Washington 1 0 39
Michigan 23 1 24 West Virginia 21 0 26
Minnesota 41 0 18 Wisconsin 42 0 17
Mississippi 81 0 11 Wyoming 5 0 34
Missouri 105 1 5 United States (4) 1,910 54  

(1) Numbers include preliminary estimates as of January 2025. Ranked by total number of tornadoes.
(2) States with the same number of tornadoes receive the same ranking.
(3) State had no tornadoes in 2024.
(4) The U.S. total will not match data used in other charts because it counts tornadoes that cross state lines.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.

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Tornadoes And Related Deaths In The United States, 2005-2024 (1)

 

Year Tornadoes Deaths Year Tornadoes Deaths
2005 1,264 38 2015 1,177 36
2006 1,103 67 2016 976 18
2007 1,098 81 2017 1,429 35
2008 1,692 126 2018 1,126 10
2009 1,156 21 2019 1,517 42
2010 1,282 45 2020 1,082 76
2011 1,691 553 2021 1,314 103
2012 938 70 2022 1,143 23
2013 906 55 2023 1,294 83
2014 886 47 2024 1,810 54

(1) Numbers include actuals through November and preliminary estimates for December as of February 2025. Excludes Puerto Rico. Tornadoes that cross state lines are counted as a single event in this chart.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.

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U.S. Tornado Count, 2024

 

us_torn_count_24.jpg

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service.

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