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Facts + Statistics: Tornadoes and thunderstorms
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 U.S. experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, according to a 2013 report by Lloyd’s of London. (See Executive Summary, page 4 of Tornadoes a Rising Risk? for additional findings and statistics.)
The Fujita Scale For Tornadoes
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(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.
2020 Tornadoes: In 2020 through November 2 there were 1,183 tornadoes compared with 1,448 in the first 11 months of 2019, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 2020 through November, 78 people perished in tornadoes compared with 38 in the first 11 months of 2019. On April 12 and 13, 32 people perished in tornadoes in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Those tornadoes were part of a larger convective storm system that spanned 23 states and the District of Columbia from April 10 to April 14 and caused $2.6 billion in insured losses, according to Property Claims Services (PCS), a Verisk Analytics company. On March 2 and 3, 25 people were killed in tornadoes in central Tennessee, including the city of Nashville. Tornado deaths in 2020 are the highest since 2011, when 553 people were killed in 1,691 tornadoes. PCS also reports that a convective storm system affected 11 states from August 8 to August 11 and caused $2.9 billion in insured losses.
2019 Tornadoes: The number of tornadoes rose to 1,520 in 2019 from 1,126 in 2018, according to NOAA. The 2019 total was the highest since 2011, when there were 1,691 tornadoes. There were 41 direct fatalities from tornadoes in 2019, compared with 10 in 2018, according to NOAA. May was the top month for tornadoes in 2019, with 506 twisters, including the May 26 to 29 system that resulted in $3.4 billion in insured losses, according to PCS. March was the deadliest month in 2019—on March 3 an F4 tornado struck Alabama and killed twenty-three people and left a half-mile wide path of destruction. The March 3 tornado storm system was the deadliest outbreak in the United States since a system in Arkansas and Mississippi in April 2014 killed 35 people. In 2019 U.S tornadoes and thunderstorms caused $20.3 billion in insured losses, according to Munich RE, up from $14.1 billion in 2018.
Insured Losses
Convective storms are the most common and damaging natural catastrophes in the United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s May 2020 white paper, Severe convective storms. According to catastrophe modeling company RMS, insured losses in the United States from these storms average about $17 billion on average each year, nearly equal to the losses incurred by hurricanes. While scientists cannot say that these storms are increasing, it is clear that the losses are increasing, as a result of population growth and economic development. In addition, the geography, frequency and intensity of these storms also may be changing. According to Aon, there were 14 separate billion-dollar economic, or total loss severe convective events in 2020. The most expensive included the August 10 Midwest derecho, or straight lines winds.
The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that tornadoes can happen any time of year. The costliest U.S. catastrophe involving tornadoes, based on insured losses, occurred in April 2011. It hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and other areas, and cost $8.4 billion in insured damages (in 2019 dollars). The second costliest catastrophe involving tornadoes, based on insured losses, struck Joplin, Missouri, and other locations in May 2011. The catastrophe cost $7.9 billion in insured losses in 2019 dollars. (See chart below.) The National Weather Service posts updated information on tornadoes.
Convective storms are the result of 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 the Triple-I’s May 2020 white paper, Severe convective storms. According to catastrophe modeling company RMS, insured losses in the United States from these storms average about $17 billion each year, nearly equal to the losses incurred by hurricanes. While scientists cannot say that these storms are increasing, it is clear that the losses are increasing, as a result of population growth and economic development. In addition, the geography, frequency and intensity of these storms also may be changing.
According to Aon, there were 14 separate billion-dollar economic, or total loss, severe convective events in 2020. The most expensive included the August 10 Midwest derecho (straight line winds).
Natural Catastrophe Losses In The United States, 2019
(Based on perils; US$ millions)
Source: © 2020 Munich Re, NatCatSERVICE; Property Claim Services (PCS®)*, a Verisk Analytics® business. As of June 2020.
Number Of Tornadoes And Related Deaths Per Month, 2019 (1)
(1) Excludes Puerto Rico. A tornado that crosses state lines is counted as a single event in this chart.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
Top 10 Costliest U.S. Catastrophes Involving Tornadoes (1)
($ millions)
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(1) Based on data through September 30, 2020.
(2) Property coverage only. In addition to losses due to tornadoes themselves, amounts may include losses due to hail, wind and flooding during the same event.
(3) Adjusted for inflation through 2019 by the Insurance Information Institute using the GDP implicit price deflator.
(4) 2020 dollars.
Source: The Property Claim Services® (PCS®) unit of ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® company; Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Top 10 States, By Number Of Tornadoes, 2019 (1)
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(1) 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.
Tornadoes And Related Deaths By State, 2019 (1)
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(1) Ranked by total number of tornadoes.
(2) States with the same number of tornadoes receive the same ranking.
(3) State had no tornadoes in 2019.
(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.
Tornadoes And Related Deaths In The United States, 2000-2019 (1)
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(1) Excludes Puerto Rico. A tornado that crosses state lines counts as one event.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service.
U.S. Tornado Count, 2019
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service.
Convective Storm Events* in the U.S., 1980-2018
(Overall and insured losses)
Source: © 2019 Munich Re, Geo Risks Research, NatCatSERVICE. As of March 2019.
