Tornado Statistics

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Here are some interesting tornado statistics to consider:

Tornado statistic #1: Average number of tornadoes in the U.S. each year

On average, there are about 1,000 to 1,200 tornadoes which touch down in the United States each year. Scientists estimate that about one in every 100 thunderstorms in the USA produces a tornado. (Federal Storm Prediction Center)

Tornado statistic #2: Average number of tornadoes month to month during the year

The average number of tornadoes documented in the United States by month are as follows:

  • January: 39
  • February: 28
  • March: 79
  • April: 157
  • May: 287
  • June: 227
  • July: 109
  • August: 85
  • September: 95
  • October: 63
  • November: 69
  • December: 28

Tornado statistic #3: Average number of people killed each year by tornadoes

Fatalities from tornadoes averaged 63 a year over the most recent decade studied, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. However, the two most recent seasons have been especially severe. During the 2011 tornado season, well over 500 people were killed. As of early March 2012, we already had a death tally of more than 40, before the season even officially kicked off. It’s hard to tell whether these numbers are outliers or signs of a new normal as a result of more severe storms caused by global warming trends.

Tornado statistic #4: Average warning times for tornadoes

Tornado warnings average 13 minutes of lead time and come with a 70% false alarm rate, according to VORTEX 2 planning documents.

Tornado statistic #5: Breakdown of where people are killed during tornadoes

According to averaged data from 1985 to 2007, the location of people killed by tornadoes was…

  1. Mobile homes: 43.2%
  2. Permanent homes: 31.1%
  3. Other locations: 17.7%
  4. Vehicles: 9%

Tornado statistic #6: Deadliest days for tornadoes in U.S. history

  1. March 18, 1925: 747 people were confirmed killed
  2. March 21, 1932: 332 people confirmed killed
  3. May 17, 1840: 317 people killed
  4. April 3, 1974: 310 people killed
  5. May 27, 1896: 305 people killed
  6. April 27, 2011: 281 people killed

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