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 2022 dollars (2)
1 Aug. 8-12, 2020 Includes Aug. 10 Midwest Derecho IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI,
PA, DC, MD, VA, WV		 $9,200 $10,544
2 Apr. 22-28, 2011 Late April 2011 Super Tornado Outbreak AL, AR, GA, IL, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, TN, TX, VA 7,300  9,682
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		 6,900  9,109
4 May 2-5, 2003 SCS Outbreak AL, AR, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN 3,205  5,210
5 May 27-30, 2019 SCS Outbreak CO, TX, OK, KS, AR, MO, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, WV, WY, NJ, NY 3,650  4,252
6 Apr. 10-15, 2016 San Antonio Hailstorm TX, LA, OK, AR, MS, KS, MO 3,200  3,990
7 Apr. 6-12, 2001 St. Louis Hailstorm AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, OK, PA, TX 2,200  3,710
8 May 18-23, 2014 SCS Outbreak CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, MT, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA 2,950  3,669
9 Oct. 5-6, 2010 Phoenix Hailstorm AZ 2,700  3,683
10 Dec. 10-12, 2021 U.S. December Tornado Outbreak AR, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, NY, OH, TN, TX 3,300  3,531

(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.

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Top 10 States, By Number Of Tornadoes, 2022 (1)

 

Rank State Number of tornadoes Fatalities
1 Mississippi 184 1
2 Texas 160 3
3 Alabama 117 3
4 Minnesota 77 0
5 Florida 73 2
6 Kansas 68 0
7 Louisiana 61 4
8 Arkansas 56 0
8 Georgia 56 1
9 Iowa 53 7
10 Colorado 39 0

(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.

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Tornadoes And Related Deaths By State, 2022 (1)

 

State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2) State Tornadoes Fatalities Rank (2)
Alabama 117 3 3 Montana 2 0 26
Alaska 0 0 (3) Nebraska 31 0 13
Arizona 7 0 21 Nevada 1 0 27
Arkansas 56 0 8 New Hampshire 2 0 26
California 4 0 24 New Jersey 2 0 26
Colorado 39 0 10 New Mexico 2 0 26
Connecticut 1 0 27 New York 5 0 23
Delaware 0 0 (3) North Carolina 17 0 17
D.C. 0 0 (3) North Dakota 20 0 16
Florida 73 2 5 Ohio 32 0 12
Georgia 56 1 8 Oklahoma 28 1 14
Hawaii 0 0 (3) Oregon 6 0 22
Idaho 1 0 27 Pennsylvania 7 0 21
Illinois 34 0 11 Rhode Island 0 0 (3)
Indiana 13 0 19 South Carolina 28 0 14
Iowa 53 7 9 South Dakota 27 0 15
Kansas 68 0 6 Tennessee 5 0 23
Kentucky 31 0 13 Texas 160 3 2
Louisiana 61 4 7 Utah 4 0 24
Maine 0 0 (3) Vermont 2 0 26
Maryland 6 0 22 Virginia 16 0 18
Massachusetts 0 0 (3) Washington 2 0 26
Michigan 3 2 25 West Virginia 2 0 26
Minnesota 77 0 4 Wisconsin 34 0 11
Mississippi 184 1 1 Wyoming 1 0 27
Missouri 11 0 20 United States (4) 1,331 24  

(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.

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Tornadoes And Related Deaths In The United States, 2003-2022 (1)

 

Year Tornadoes Deaths Year Tornadoes Deaths
2003 1,376 54 2013 906 55
2004 1,819 36 2014 886 47
2005 1,264 38 2015 1,177 36
2006 1,103 67 2016 976 18
2007 1,098 81 2017 1,429 35
2008 1,692 126 2018 1,126 10
2009 1,156 21 2019 1,517 42
2010 1,282 45 2020 1,082 76
2011 1,691 553 2021 1,314 103
2012 938 70 2022 1,240 24

(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.

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U.S. Tornado Count, 2022

 

us_torn_count_22.gif

U.S. Tornado Count, 2022

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

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