Special Report

States Hit Hardest by Tornadoes

Charles Stockdale

Published: June 4, 2018 4:37 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 10:47 pm

The United States has had far fewer intense tornadoes – those with winds reaching 136 mph or stronger – so far this year than any other year in recent history. Yet even smaller tornadoes can cause extreme damage to people, property, and nature.

Though tornadoes have been documented across the globe, they are more common in the United States than anywhere else in the world, with Canada following in second. Of course, the likelihood of tornadoes forming also varies across the country, with some states rarely experiencing the windstorms, while others occasionally recording over 100 in a year.

To identify the states with the most tornadoes, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed tornado data from the National Weather Service. We averaged the number of tornadoes to occur annually in each state from 1950 through 2017 and ranked the states by these averages.

Click here to see the states with the most tornadoes.
Click here to see our methodology.

As of April 2018, there were preliminary reports of 210 tornadoes, below to the average of 299 for the period. Though there is a relative decline in the number of recorded tornadoes, historical records show there is little trend in the frequency of stronger tornadoes over the past half century. Some strong trends have emerged: tornadoes are more likely to strike in the afternoons during the spring and summer months

Tornadoes have been documented in every state since 1950, yet by examining past records we can see which states are most at risk compared to other areas. Many states in the Midwest, Southwest, and South Central regions of the country, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, have been bombarded with tornadoes since 1950. There were more than 3,000 tornadoes in total in each of those states in that time. This area is referred to as Tornado Alley due to its high frequency of tornadoes.

At the other end of the spectrum, the non-continental states of Alaska and Hawaii have experienced relatively few tornadoes. Alaska has experience exceptionally few, with only four recorded tornadoes over the past 68 years. The Northeast region of the United States, including Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, is also relatively safe from tornadoes, on average.

Source: Rocky Grimes / Shutterstock.com

50. Alaska
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 0
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 4
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $0 (the lowest)

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Source: Thinkstock

49. Rhode Island
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 0
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 13
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $155,000 (4th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

48. Hawaii
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 41
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $60,000 (3rd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

47. Vermont
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 47
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,295,000 (6th lowest)

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Source: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

46. Delaware
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 63
> Total tornadoes (2017): 1
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,450,000 (7th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

45. Nevada
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 89
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $32,000 (2nd lowest)

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Source: Thinkstock

44. New Hampshire
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 94
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $2,910,000 (10th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

43. Connecticut
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 1
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 100
> Total tornadoes (2017): 0
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $11,343,000 (14th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

42. Oregon
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 115
> Total tornadoes (2017): 3
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $3,531,000 (11th lowest)

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Source: Thinkstock

41. Washington
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 121
> Total tornadoes (2017): 2
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $2,515,000 (9th lowest)

Source: Bill_Dally / iStock

40. Utah
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 128
> Total tornadoes (2017): 2
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $175,906,000 (24th lowest)

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Source: Jubileejourney / Wikimedia Commons

39. Maine
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 134
> Total tornadoes (2017): 7
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $394,000 (5th lowest)

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38. New Jersey
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 151
> Total tornadoes (2017): 2
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $12,900,000 (15th lowest)

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37. West Virginia
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 151
> Total tornadoes (2017): 4
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $14,618,000 (16th lowest)

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Source: Thinkstock

36. Massachusetts
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 2
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 167
> Total tornadoes (2017): 2
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $238,187,000 (23rd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

35. Idaho
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 3
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 209
> Total tornadoes (2017): 1
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $4,373,200 (12th lowest)

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Source: miroslav_1 / iStock

34. Arizona
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 4
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 246
> Total tornadoes (2017): 3
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $2,459,000 (8th lowest)

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33. Maryland
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 5
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 367
> Total tornadoes (2017): 4
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $260,017,000 (22nd highest)

Source: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

32. Montana
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 6
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 415
> Total tornadoes (2017): 1
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $40,758,000 (19th lowest)

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Source: Thinkstock

31. California
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 6
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 431
> Total tornadoes (2017): 3
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $35,296,500 (18th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

30. New York
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 7
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 444
> Total tornadoes (2017): 12
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $214,105,000 (25th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

29. New Mexico
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 9
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 586
> Total tornadoes (2017): 12
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $25,719,500 (17th lowest)

Source: aoldman / iStock

28. Wyoming
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 10
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 671
> Total tornadoes (2017): 12
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $7,356,000 (13th lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

27. Virginia
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 11
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 723
> Total tornadoes (2017): 27
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $229,119,000 (24th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

26. Pennsylvania
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 12
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 802
> Total tornadoes (2017): 25
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $168,912,000 (23rd lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

25. Kentucky
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 15
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 998
> Total tornadoes (2017): 27
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $915,542,000 (13th highest)

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24. South Carolina
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 15
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,011
> Total tornadoes (2017): 46
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $78,867,000 (21st lowest)

Source: Thinkstock

23. Michigan
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 15
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,039
> Total tornadoes (2017): 10
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $366,919,000 (21st highest)

Source: Thinkstock

22. Ohio
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 16
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,109
> Total tornadoes (2017): 42
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $564,878,500 (18th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

21. Tennessee
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 18
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,226
> Total tornadoes (2017): 34
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,228,898,000 (10th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

20. North Carolina
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 19
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,309
> Total tornadoes (2017): 33
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $687,081,500 (15th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

19. Wisconsin
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 20
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,370
> Total tornadoes (2017): 23
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $387,695,600 (19th highest)

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18. Indiana
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 22
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,517
> Total tornadoes (2017): 32
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $577,468,200 (17th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

17. North Dakota
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 23
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,550
> Total tornadoes (2017): 33
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $110,459,000 (22nd lowest)

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16. Georgia
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 25
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,680
> Total tornadoes (2017): 120
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,467,948,000 (8th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

15. South Dakota
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 26
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,789
> Total tornadoes (2017): 15
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $69,702,500 (20th lowest)

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14. Minnesota
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 27
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,831
> Total tornadoes (2017): 61
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $681,752,500 (16th highest)

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13. Arkansas
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 27
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 1,848
> Total tornadoes (2017): 40
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,509,374,000 (7th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

12. Louisiana
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 30
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,012
> Total tornadoes (2017): 88
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $692,049,000 (14th highest)

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11. Colorado
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 31
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,136
> Total tornadoes (2017): 20
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $178,347,000 (25th lowest)

Source: BJ Ray / Shutterstock.com

10. Alabama
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 32
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,171
> Total tornadoes (2017): 60
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $7,069,498,000 (the highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

9. Mississippi
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 33
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,213
> Total tornadoes (2017): 70
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $2,490,727,500 (4th highest)

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8. Missouri
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 34
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,327
> Total tornadoes (2017): 86
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $3,801,514,700 (3rd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

7. Illinois
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 37
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,503
> Total tornadoes (2017): 51
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,544,148,000 (6th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

6. Iowa
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 37
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,545
> Total tornadoes (2017): 55
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,070,663,200 (11th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

5. Nebraska
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 42
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 2,877
> Total tornadoes (2017): 35
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $369,517,000 (20th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

4. Florida
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 49
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 3,345
> Total tornadoes (2017): 57
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $976,588,000 (12th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

3. Oklahoma
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 57
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 3,877
> Total tornadoes (2017): 86
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $4,146,096,000 (2nd highest)

Source: Thinkstock

2. Kansas
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 63
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 4,256
> Total tornadoes (2017): 60
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $1,430,747,800 (9th highest)

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Source: Thinkstock

1. Texas
> Average annual tornadoes (1950-2017): 130
> Total tornadoes (1950-2017): 8,809
> Total tornadoes (2017): 170
> Total tornado damage (1996-2017): $2,378,297,000 (5th highest)

Methodology:

To determine the states with the most tornadoes, 24/7 Wall St. found the average number of annual tornadoes recorded each state from 1950 to 2017, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Storm Prediction Service. According to the organization, “tornadoes were likely underreported prior to 1953.” Additionally, tornado data for 2017 is still marked as preliminary as of April 11 and is subject to future changes. For cases in which multiple states had the same number of average annual tornadoes, the state with more tornadoes in 2017 alone was ranked higher. Total tornado damage is also from the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Service and spans 1996 to 2017 – the years for which exact amounts rather than ranges is available.