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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 2025 dollars (2)
1 Aug. 8-12, 2020 Midwest Derecho IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI, PA, DC, MD, VA, WV $9,200 $11,481
2 Apr. 22-28, 2011 Tornado Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, TN,
TX, VA		 7,560 10,918
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 10,062
4 Mar. 14-16, 2025 SCS Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WI 8,000 8,000
5 May 14-16, 2025 Tornado & SCS Outbreak IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MO, OH, TX, VA, WI, NC, PA 6,000 6,000
6 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 5,841
7 May 6-10, 2024 SCS Outbreak OK, TX, MO, MI, TN, SC, NC, LA, AL, MS, GA, FL, AR, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, OH, WI 5,200 5,378
8 Mar. 1-3, 2023 SCS Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IN, KY, MS, OH, PA, TN, VA 4,900 5,273
9 Mar. 12-16, 2024 SCS Outbreak IL, IN, KS, KY, MS, OH, OK, TX, MO, AR 4,800 4,992
10 Jun. 21-26, 2023 SCS Outbreak AR, CO, GA, IN, IA, KY, MD, MI, NE, NJ, NY, NC, PA, TN, TX, VA, WY 4,650 4,950

(1) Defined by Aon as severe convective storms (SCS) including insured thunderstorm events and may include tornado, hail, damaging straight-line winds (derechos) and flash flood impacts from events. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2026.
(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, 2025 (1)

 

Rank State Number of tornadoes (2) Fatalities
1 Texas 162 0
2 Illinois 147 0
2 Missouri 120 17
4 Mississippi 111 8
5 Alabama 72 3
5 North Dakota 72 3
7 Indiana 67 1
8 Oklahoma 66 1
9 Arkansas 61 3
10 Minnesota 56 0

(1) Numbers include preliminary estimates as of January 2026.
(2) 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, 2025 (1)

 

State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2) State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2)
Alabama 72 3 5 Montana 6 0 33
Alaska 0 0 (3) Nebraska 56 0 10
Arizona 6 0 33 Nevada 1 0 41
Arkansas 61 3 9 New Hampshire 0 0 (3)
California 8 0 27 New Jersey 3 0 37
Colorado 38 0 16 New Mexico 21 0 24
Connecticut 0 0 (3) New York 7 3 30
Delaware 2 0 38 North Carolina 15 0 26
D.C. 0 0 (3) North Dakota 72 3 5
Florida 25 0 22 Ohio 27 0 21
Georgia 38 0 16 Oklahoma 66 1 8
Hawaii 0 0 (3) Oregon 2 0 38
Idaho 2 0 38 Pennsylvania 23 0 23
Illinois 147 0 2 Puerto Rico 0 0 (3)
Indiana 67 1 7 Rhode Island 0 0 (3)
Iowa 36 0 19 South Carolina 8 0 27
Kansas 45 0 13 South Dakota 20 0 25
Kentucky 53 19 12 Tennessee 41 9 14
Louisiana 41 0 14 Texas 162 0 1
Maine 0 0 (3) Utah 7 0 30
Maryland 7 0 30 Vermont 0 0 (3)
Massachusetts 4 0 36 Virginia 6 0 33
Michigan 31 0 20 Washington 0 0 (3)
Minnesota 56 0 10 West Virginia 0 0 (3)
Mississippi 111 8 4 Wisconsin 38 0 16
Missouri 120 17 3 Wyoming 8 0 27
        United States (4) 1,559 67  

(1) Numbers include preliminary estimates as of January 2026. Ranked by total number of tornadoes.
(2) States with the same number of tornadoes receive the same ranking.
(3) State had no tornadoes in 2025.
(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, 2006-2025 (1)

 

Year Tornadoes Deaths Year Tornadoes Deaths
2006 1,104 67 2016 977 18
2007 1,099 81 2017 1,430 35
2008 1,692 126 2018 1,126 10
2009 1,157 21 2019 1,520 42
2010 1,282 45 2020 1,082 76
2011 1,692 553 2021 1,314 103
2012 939 70 2022 1,144 23
2013 907 55 2023 1,297 83
2014 886 47 2024 1,811 54
2015 1,177 36 2025 1,559 67

(1) Numbers include actuals through June and preliminary estimates for July through December as of February 2026. 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, 2025

 

us_torn_count_25.jpg

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

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