The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country globally, with certain states facing a higher risk due to geographical and meteorological factors. From 2003 to 2022, the United States experienced an average of 1,248 tornadoes, 54% of which occurred between the spring and summer months of April and June.
Tornado Alley is primarily located in the Central United States and includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. This region is notorious for its frequent and intense tornado activity during the spring and early summer months due to the convergence of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold, dry air from Canada. The month of May averages 278 tornadoes every year.
Dixie Alley, which includes parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, experiences a high frequency of tornado activity in the late fall and winter as warm and moisture-laden weather conducive to tornadoes moves to the South.
This article explores 11 states with the highest tornado risk.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is often called the “Tornado Capital” of the United States. With an average of 57 tornadoes per year, it has the highest tornado density in the country. The state’s flat terrain and position in Tornado Alley contribute to this high frequency. The Moore tornado of 2013, an EF5 tornado, caused over $2 billion in damages and highlighted the severe risk faced by residents. The state also has the most violent tornadoes, with seven EF5/F5 tornadoes. Several tornadoes struck the Oklahoma area 30 times on the same day.
Texas
Texas experiences the highest number of tornadoes annually; an average of 140 tornadoes yearly, particularly in the northern and central regions. The number of tornadoes in Texas emphasizes the importance of advanced warning systems and preparedness plans for its residents. After Oklahoma and Alabama, Texas encounters the most violent tornadoes. It has had 52 most dangerous tornadoes since 1950. The Waco Tornado, an F5 on May 11, 1953, is considered the deadliest Texan tornado since 1900, that killed 114 and injured 597.
Kansas
Kansas, famously associated with tornadoes through “The Wizard of Oz,” sees an average of 61 tornadoes per year. The state’s location in the center of Tornado Alley makes it highly susceptible to intense F5/EF5 tornadoes that demonstrate rotational velocities of 261-318 mph. Along with Texas and Iowa, Kansas has been subjected to six 5-rated tornadoes since 1950.
Nebraska
Nebraska experiences around 57 tornadoes annually. The state’s vast plains provide little resistance to the formation and movement of tornadoes. Nebraska’s vulnerability was evident in the 2004 outbreak, which saw 110 tornadoes in just one month. Omaha, Nebraska, suffers from tornadoes every year. Still, the tornado that hit Omaha in March 1913 is considered its deadliest ever, with 103 people dead, 800 homes destroyed, and a total monetary loss of US$ 8,700,000.
Missouri
Missouri experiences about 45 tornadoes annually. The state’s varying topography and proximity to Tornado Alley contribute to its tornado risk. The 2011 Joplin tornado, an EF5, had winds higher than 200 miles per hour. It struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, resulting in 158 fatalities and over $2.8 billion in damages to infrastructure and property, marking it the seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The U.S. suffered the most economic damage caused by tornadoes in the year 2011, nearly US$9.5 billion owing to two back-to-back catastrophic tornadoes – Super Outbreak and Joplin Tornadoes.
Alabama
Alabama, part of the Dixie Alley region, experiences around 44 tornadoes annually. The state’s location and climate make it susceptible to severe weather, particularly in late winter and early spring. The 2011 Super Outbreak, in which 343 tornadoes raged over 72 hours (April 25-28), devastated Alabama and caused 553 deaths (245 in Alabama alone). This tornado swept through Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee, reaching north of central New York.
Mississippi
Although not part of Tornado Alley, Mississippi has a high tornado density, averaging 44 tornadoes per year. The state’s warm, humid climate can lead to severe storms and tornadoes, particularly during the spring and late fall. The 1936 Tupelo Tornado is considered one of the deadliest twisters in Mississippi’s history, claiming 216 lives and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Illinois
Illinois sees an average of 54 tornadoes each year. The state’s flat plains and seasonal weather patterns contribute to its tornado risk. The Tri-State Tornado, an F5 tornado on the Fujita scale, tore through Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Southwest Indiana on March 18, 1925, claiming 695 deaths, a record for a single tornado, 2027 injured, and 15,000 homes destroyed.
Tennessee
Tennessee averages around 29 tornadoes per year. The state’s location in Dixie Alley and its varied terrain contribute to its tornado vulnerability. The 1974 Super Outbreak lasted from April 3-4 and produced over 100 tornadoes, seven of which were EF5, in 24 hours. It wrought havoc in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, claimed 335 lives, and caused US$600 million in damages.
Indiana
Indiana experiences about 22 tornadoes annually. The state’s location between Tornado Alley and the Great Lakes influences its tornado activity. Indiana has been subjected to many violent tornadoes, including the Tri-State that affected Posey, Gibson, and Pike counties and the 1974 Super Outbreak that caused death and destruction in Crawford, Harrison, Franklin, Bartholomew, Clark, and Scott counties.
Ohio
Western Ohio, a part of Tornado Alley, is not new to tornado onslaught. The Xenia Tornado, which was a part of the 1974 Super Outbreak, had killed 32 people. Ohio has been experiencing an unprecedented number of tornadoes in 2024, with more than 60 tornadoes from the start of the year till May end. It could be due to humid conditions resulting from a mild winter.