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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
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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.
Top 10 Costliest U.S. Catastrophes Involving Tornadoes (1)
($ millions)
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(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 2022. Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed. As of January 2023.
(2) Adjusted for inflation by Aon using the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
Source: Aon.
Top 10 States, By Number Of Tornadoes, 2022 (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, 2022 (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 2022.
(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, 2003-2022 (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, 2022
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service.